Thermal transfer printing method and image-forming layer transfer medium

ABSTRACT

A thermal transfer printing method, in a combination of a transfer medium including a support on which at least a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer (and a protecting layer) are provided separately from color layers, an intermediate medium, and an image-receiving medium, comprising steps of: transferring at least the dye anti-diffusion layer and the dyeing layer (and the protecting layer) onto the intermediate medium, thereby forming a sequential laminate on the intermediate medium; printing a thermal transfer image in the dyeing layer of the laminate formed on the intermediate medium; and transferring the laminate carrying the thermal transfer image thereon from the intermediate medium onto the image-receiving medium (and fixing it simultaneously, or after transferring), thereby finally forming a print image on the image-receiving medium. A novel image-forming layer transfer medium used in the above thermal transfer printing method, has various properties in area of each layer, thermal characteristics, arrangement of respective layers etc. According to the printing method and the image-forming layer transfer medium, the print image obtained causes no contamination by dyestuff and print density is not lowered by the loss of dyestuff, bringing high-temperature stability in maintaining the transfer medium in a wound condition, and/or realizing a low-temperature transfer operation of the image-forming layer onto the image-receiving medium.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/345,686 filedNov. 21, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,605.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing method andan image-forming layer transfer medium using a printing means such as athermal head, an optical head like a laser, and electrical head, andmore particularly to a thermal transfer printing method and animage-forming layer transfer medium capable of obtaining an excellentprinting image on any type of image-receiving medium such as a plainpaper in a sublimation type thermal transfer printing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the thermal transfer printing of sublimation type, there is known amethod of forming a dyeing layer first on an intermediate medium, thenprinting a thermal transfer image into the dyeing layer on theintermediate medium, and subsequently transferring thus printed dyeinglayer onto an image-receiving medium such as a plain paper, therebyfinally forming an image on the image-receiving medium. (For example,Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 4-141486)

In such a conventional printing method, a problem will arise when, afterthe image is once printed on the intermediate medium, the printed dyeinglayer is transferred from the intermediate medium to the image-receivingmedium. More specifically, the dyeing layer is subjected to applicationof heat when the image is printed into the dyeing layer and/or when thedyeing layer is transferred to a plain paper. If the printing density ofthe dyeing layer is too high, a part of dyestuff possibly penetrates thedyeing layer and possibly contaminates the intermediate medium. Sincethe intermediate medium is repeatedly used, the next dyeing layer isnewly formed on the intermediate layer to print the image in this dyeinglayer and then transfer the image onto the image-receiving medium in thesame manner as the previous printing operation. Thus, there is apossibility that the previously printed image remaining on theintermediate medium may be unwantedly transferred onto the newly formeddyeing layer, thus causing a problem that the old print imagecontaminates the new print image formed in the new dyeing layer.

Furthermore, penetration of dyestuff through the dyeing layer will causeanother problem such that the print density obtained is lower thanexpected. This is because a part of dyestuff penetrates the dyeing layerso deep that it dyes the intermediate medium, for example, in a casewhere the dyestuff to be completely maintained in the dyeing layerduring a printing operation partly includes a higher print densityregion, or in a case where numerous colors are simultaneously printed.

Moreover, another problem will arise when a material having low glasstransition point (or softening point) is adopted as a dyeing layer inorder to gain excellent printing sensitivity. Because, the dyeing layeron a support may be thermally melted onto the reverse surface of thesupport when the transfer medium including the dyeing layer ismaintained in a wound condition at a higher temperature.

Meanwhile, maintaining the dyeing layer at a lower temperature isnormally required when the dyeing layer is transferred from the transfermedium to the intermediate medium, or when the dyeing layer istransferred from the intermediate layer to the image-receiving mediumsuch as a plain paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in view of above-described problems encountered in theprior art, a principal object of the present invention is to provide athermal transfer printing method and an image-forming layer transfermedium capable of preventing contamination of dye on an image-receivingmedium in a sublimation type thermal transfer printing, guaranteeing aprinting image whose print density is not lowered by the loss ofdyestuff, bringing high-temperature stability in maintaining thetransfer medium in a wound condition, and/or realizing a low-temperaturetransfer operation of the image-forming layer onto the image-receivingmedium.

In order to accomplish this and other related objects, the presentinvention provides a printing method, which uses an image-forming layertransfer medium comprising at least a dyeing layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer on a support thereof, or an image-forming layertransfer medium comprising at least a dyeing layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer and a protecting layer on a support thereof,transfers and forms a laminate including at least the dye anti-diffusionlayer and the dyeing layer (or the dye anti-diffusion layer, theprotecting layer and the dyeing layer) onto an intermediate medium,prints a thermal transfer image into the dyeing layer of the laminate,and transfers the laminate from the intermediate medium to animage-receiving medium (or further fixing it), thereby finally obtaininga print image on the image-receiving medium.

The present invention further provides an image-forming layer transfermedium comprising at least a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layeron a support thereof, or an image-forming layer transfer mediumcomprising at least a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer and aprotecting layer on a support thereof, or the one characterized by areaof each layer, thermal characteristics, and/or arrangement of respectivelayers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 through 5 are schematic views showing principles of the printingmethod in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 6 through 37 are cross-sectional views schematically showingimage-forming layer transfer media in accordance with the preferredembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a principle of the printing method inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.1, there is shown an image-forming layer transfer medium 3 having alaminate 28 essentially consisting of a dyeing layer 7 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 and color layers 8, 9 and 10 which are separatedfrom each other and sequentially disposed along the surface of a support26.

In the following description of the present invention, the image-forminglayer transfer medium 3 or a dye transfer medium may be referred simplyas "transfer medium". If a plurality of separated transfer mediaincluding an image-forming layer transfer medium, e.g. a combination ofan image-forming layer transfer medium and a dye transfer medium, areused, "transfer medium" will represents each of the plurality oftransfer media or all of them as a whole. By the way, the dye transfermedium has at least a color layer on a support thereof, and does nothave a dyeing layer on the support thereof.

An image-forming layer transfer medium 3, shown in FIG. 1 as a typicalexample, comprises a support, releasing layers 6, sequential laminates28 and color layers. The support 26 consists of a polymeric film 4 andan anchor coat layer 5 formed on the polymeric film 4. The sequentiallaminate 28 consisting of a dyeing layer 7 and a dye anti-diffusionlayer 27 is formed on the support 26 via the releasing layer 6. A yellowcolor layer 8, a magenta color layer 9 and a cyan color layer 10 aresequentially disposed along a surface on the support 26. (Refer to anenlarged cross-sectional view of the image-forming layer transfer medium3.) The polymeric film 4 has a back coat layer formed on a surfaceopposite to the surface on which the anchor coat layer 5 is formed, forassuring satisfactory travelling characteristics to a thermal head(although FIG. 1 omits such a back coat layer).

First, a printing head 1 (e.g. a thermal head) is pushed against aplaten 2 so that an intermediate medium 11 and the image-forming layertransfer medium 3 can travel together in the same direction (forexample, the intermediate medium 11 causes a rotation in a clockwisedirection). With heat generated from the printing head 1, the laminate28 on the image-forming layer transfer medium 3 is then thermallytransferred onto the intermediate medium 11, thus forming a laminate 28on the intermediate medium 11.

Formation of a laminate 28 onto the intermediate medium 11, realized bythe printing head 1 in FIG. 1, however is not limited to the disclosedone. A heat and/or pressure medium would be used to form a laminate 28on the intermediate medium 11. A representative heat and/or pressuremedium would be, for example, shown below as a heat and/or pressuremedium used for transferring a laminate 28 from the intermediate medium11 to the image-receiving medium 12. More specifically, the platen 2 ora roller closely provided to the printing head 1 can be a heating rolleraccommodating a heating means such as a halogen lamp, so that thisheating roller generates heat to form a laminate 28 on the intermediatemedium 11. If the surface of the intermediate medium 11 is sticky orrubber-like or rough, solely applying pressure thereon would besufficient to transfer the laminate 28 from the image-forming layertransfer medium 3 to the intermediate medium 11 to form the laminate 28on the intermediate medium 11.

Electrical processing (e.g. corona discharge or electrostatic chargeprocessing) can be also applied on the intermediate medium 11 before orduring the laminate 28 is formed on the intermediate medium 11.Especially, such electrical processing would be effective for an endlesstype intermediate medium, since the endless type intermediate medium isrepeatedly used and therefore requires a surface cleaning or a surfacetreatment.

Next, the intermediate medium 11 is further rotated in the clockwisedirection until the laminate 28 on the intermediate medium 11 returnsjust on or close to the platen position. Thereafter, the yellow colorlayer 8 of the image-forming layer transfer medium 3 is laid on top ofthe dyeing layer 7 of the laminate 28 on the intermediate medium 11,thereby transferring yellow image into the dyeing layer 7 by means ofthe printing head 1. Magenta image and cyan image are successivelyprinted in the dyeing layer 7 in the same manner.

In this case, the dye anti-diffusion layer 27 is interposed between thedyeing layer 7 and the intermediate medium 11, thus surely preventingdyestuff printed in the dyeing layer 7 from diffusing into theintermediate medium 11.

In the formation of the laminate 28 on the intermediate medium 11, theintermediate medium 11 can be reversed toward the platen position byrotating it in the counterclockwise direction instead of causing theintermediate medium 11 to create one complete revolution in theclockwise direction. This operation can be similarly applied to theprinting operation of each color. Thermal transfer image printing intothe dyeing layer 7 can be realized regardless of the travelling speedsof the image-forming layer transfer medium 3 and the intermediate medium11 which may be the same or different.

Next, the image-receiving medium 12, fed by a supply roller 13, is laidon top of the laminate 28 on the intermediate medium 11. A siliconerubber roller 14 and a heating roller 15 are pressed with each other,and then both the intermediate medium 11 and the image-receiving medium12 pass through these paired rollers 14 and 15. The intermediate medium11 and the image-receiving medium 12 further pass through the pairedrollers 18 and 17, and thereafter the image-receiving medium 12 isseparated from the intermediate medium 11. Thus, the laminate 28 istransferred from the intermediate medium 11 onto the image-receivingmedium 12, thereby outputting the image-receiving medium 12 with animage printed laminate 28 thereon into a tray 21. It is, of course,possible to separate the image-receiving medium 12 from the intermediatemedium 11 after it passed through the rollers 14 and 15.

In this transfer operation to transfer the laminate 28 from theintermediate medium 11 to the image-receiving medium 12, it is possibleto prevent dyestuff printed in the dyeing layer 7 from diffusing intothe intermediate medium 11 by heat generated during the transferoperation, because the dye anti-diffusion layer 27 is interposed betweenthe dyeing layer 7 and the intermediate medium 11. Thus, theintermediate medium 11 is surely prevented from being contaminated bythe dyestuff.

To surely separate the image-receiving medium 12 from the intermediatemedium 11, it is desirable to provide a claw 20 at a position where theimage-receiving medium 12 is easily separated from the intermediatemedium 11 as shown in FIG. 1 as occasion demands. It will be desirableto replace the heating roller 15 with the roller 18 and provide theheating roller 15 and the silicone rubber roller 14 at the positionwhere the roller 18 is provided. Furthermore, the heating roller 15 canbe always brought into contact with the intermediate medium 11.Otherwise, the heating roller 15 can be brought into contact with theintermediate medium 11 only when the roller 15 and the silicone rubberroller 14 are pressed with each other.

In the image printing operation carried out by laying the color layers8, 9 and 10 on top of the dyeing layer 7 of the intermediate medium 11,it is desirable to provide a roller 24 to ensure that the image-forminglayer transfer medium 3 and the intermediate medium 11 travel togetherin an overlapped manner. In FIG. 1 the roller 24 moves together with theprinting head 1, thereby performing a role of forcibly overlapping theimage-forming layer transfer medium 3 with the intermediate medium 11.With this arrangement, the image-forming layer transfer medium 3 isprevented from being separated from the intermediate medium 11immediately after finishing a printing operation. Thus the dyeing layer7 is stably held on the intermediate medium 11, thereby preventing thedyeing layer 7 from unwantedly returning onto the image-forming layertransfer medium 3 after finishing printing operation. The reason isexplained below in more detail. The color layers 8, 9 and 10 (or boththe color layers 8, 9, 10 and the dyeing layer 7) are in a thermallymelting (or thermally softening) condition during the image printingoperation. Therefore, the dyeing layer 7 and the color layers 8, 9 and10 easily cause a thermal melting. Furthermore, as bonding strengthbetween the intermediate medium 11 and the dyeing layer 7 is not solarge, it is necessary to provide a cooling distance for overcomingundesirable thermal melting after finishing the printing operation, soas to prevent the dyeing layer 7 from being transferred onto the colorlayers 8, 9 and 10 when the image-forming layer transfer medium 3 isseparated from the intermediate medium 11.

It is desirable to provide a sufficient clearance between the heatingroller 15 (together with the silicone rubber roller 14) and the roller17. Because, in the transfer operation of the laminate 28 from theintermediate medium to the image-receiving medium 12, after applyingheat and pressure processing between the silicone rubber roller 14 andthe heating roller 15, the dye anti-diffusion layer 27 can besufficiently cooled down below the softening temperature (or the glasstransition point). In other words, there is provided a cooling distance.Thus, it is assured that the dye anti-diffusion layer 27 is easilytransferred onto the image-receiving medium 12. The dye anti-diffusionlayer 27 is in a thermally melting (or thermally softening) conditionimmediately after finishing the heat and pressure processing; hence, astrong bonding force acts between the dye anti-diffusion layer 27 andthe intermediate medium 11. This is why a sufficient cooling distanceabove-described is provided to weaken the bonding strength between thedye anti-diffusion layer 27 and the intermediate medium 11.

Meanwhile, the distance between the heating roller 15 and the roller 17can be shortened taking account of properties of the surface of theintermediate medium 11, such as releasability, adhesiveness, surfaceroughness, rubber-elasticity or combination of these properties.Furthermore, the silicone rubber roller 14 and the heating roller 15 canbe placed at the position where the rollers 18 and 17 are placed. Thus,the laminate 28 can be transferred onto the image-receiving medium 12immediately after it passed through the clearance between the siliconerubber roller 14 and the heating roller 15 together with theimage-receiving medium 12, or before it is cooled down.

One of rollers supporting the intermediate medium 11 can be replacedwith a regulating roller which prevents the intermediate medium 11 fromsnaking. For example, the roller 18 can be an anti-snaking roller, suchas a drum type roller and a solenoid-equipped position adjusting roller.Moreover, it is possible to replace one of rollers supporting theintermediate medium 11 with a tension roller for adjusting a tensiongiven to a film of the intermediate medium 11. For example, the roller19 can be a tension roller. Or, any one of the rollers 17, 18 and 19 ora newly added roller can be an anti-snaking roller or a tension roller.Furthermore, one roller may act as both an anti-snaking roller and atension roller.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows a combination of the heating roller 15and the silicone rubber roller 14 as a means for giving heat and/orpressure on the intermediate medium 11 and the image-receiving medium12; however, the means for giving heat and/or pressure is not limited tothis combination. The silicone rubber roller 14 can be a heatingsilicone rubber roller. The one disclosed in the Japanese PatentApplication No. HEI 4-198707/1992 can be applied to the presentinvention. A detection mark can be provided on any one of theimage-forming layer transfer medium 3, the intermediate medium 11 andthe image-receiving medium 12 as occasion demands, together with aposition sensor disposed at a face-to-face position to the detectionmark. A temperature sensor for the heating roller, a temperaturecontroller and others disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application No.HEI 4-196707/1992 can be also applied to the present invention.

The printing head 1 is, for example, a thermal head, an electrical head,or an optical head, having a capability of forming image into the dyeinglayer 7 on the intermediate medium 11 by sublimating or diffusing thedyestuff of the color layers 7, 8, 9 in the transfer medium 3 to thedyeing layer 7 on the intermediate medium 11, or the one having acapability of transferring the dyeing layer 7 or the like from theimage-forming layer transfer medium 3 to the intermediate medium 11,although type or details of the printing head 1 is not specificallylimited.

The same means can be used as the means for transferring the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27, the dyeing layer 7 or the laminate 28 from theimage-forming layer transfer medium 3 to the intermediate medium 11, orthe means for transferring the laminate from the intermediate medium 11to the image-receiving medium 12.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a principle of the printing method inaccordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.In FIG. 2, there are provided two transfer media, a dye transfer medium32 and an image-forming layer transfer medium 33. Although FIG. 2 showstwo printing heads (34 and 35), it is possible to provide only oneprinting head, for example the printing head 34, around which theimage-forming layer transfer medium 33 and the dye transfer medium 32will be disposed to commonly use the printing head 34, thereby realizingthe printing process of the present invention using a single printinghead.

The dye transfer medium 32 comprises a support 26 on which yellow,magenta and cyan color layers 8, 9 and 10 are sequentially disposedalong a surface thereof. The image-receiving layer transfer medium 33comprises a support 31 on which a dyeing layer 7 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 are sequentially disposed along a surfacethereof. (Refer to an enlarged cross-sectional view of the transfermedia) In the same manner as the embodiment of FIG. 1, the supports 26and 31 have a back coat layer formed on a surface brought into contactwith a thermal head (although FIG. 2 omits such a back coat layer).

First of all, the printing head 35 shown in the left of the drawing ispushed toward the platen 36 to cause the intermediate medium 11 and theimage-forming layer transfer medium 33 to travel together in the samedirection (For example, the intermediate medium 11 causes a rotation inthe clockwise direction), thereby thermally transferring the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 from the image-forming layer transfer medium 33to the intermediate medium 11 by means of the printing head 35, andforming the dye anti-diffusion layer 27 on the intermediate medium 11.

Next, the dye anti-diffusion layer 27 on the intermediate medium 11 ismoved just on or close to the platen 36. Then, the dyeing layer 7 of theimage-forming layer transfer medium 33 is laid on top of the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 to cause a similar thermal transition by meansof the printing head 35. Thus, a laminate consisting of the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 and the dyeing layer 7 is formed on theintermediate medium 11.

Next, positions of the intermediate medium 11 and the dye transfermedium 32 are adjusted in such a manner that the yellow color layer 8 isjust laid on top of the dyeing layer 7 of the laminate on theintermediate medium 11. Then the thermal transfer printing operation forforming yellow image into the dyeing layer 7 is carried out using theprinting head 34 in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG. 1. Magentaand cyan images are similarly formed in the dying layer 7. Thereafter,the image-receiving medium 12 and the intermediate medium 11 passthrough the paired silicone rubber roller 14 and heating roller 15pressed with each other, in order to transfer the laminate of the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 and the dyeing layer 7 from the intermediatemedium 11 onto the image-receiving medium 12, thereby forming image onthe image-receiving medium 12.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a principle of the printing method inaccordance with still another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 3 is characterized by a printing method of executing afixing treatment applied to the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusionlayer on the image-receiving medium, succeeding the printing methodexplained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

An image-forming layer transfer medium 43, shown in FIG. 3 as a typicalexample, comprises a support 26, releasing layers 6, sequentiallaminates 28 and color layers. The support 26 consists of a polymericfilm 4 and an anchor coat layer 5 formed on the polymeric film 4. A dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 and a dyeing layer 7 are respectively formed onthe support 26 via the releasing layer 6. A yellow color layer 8, amagenta color layer 9 and a cyan color layer 10 are sequentiallydisposed along a surface on the anchor coat layer 5 (Refer to anenlarged cross-sectional view of the image-forming layer transfermedium). In the same manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, thesupport 26 has a back coat layer formed on a surface brought intocontact with a thermal head (although FIG. 3 omits such a back coatlayer).

First, the dye anti-diffusion layer 27 of the image-forming layertransfer medium 43 is transferred onto the intermediate medium 11 byusing heat and/or pressure by means of the printing head 1. Next, thedyeing layer 7 is transferred onto the dye anti-diffusion layer 27formed on the intermediate medium 11, thus forming a laminate of the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 and the dyeing layer 7 on the intermediatemedium 11. Subsequently, each dye of the color layers 8, 9 and 10 of theimage-forming layer transfer medium 43 is successively transferred intothe dyeing layer 7 of the laminate on the intermediate medium 11 in thesame manner as in FIG. 1, thus accomplishing printing of color images.

After finishing the image printing operation, the dyeing layer 7 of thelaminate on the intermediate medium 11 is overlapped with theimage-receiving medium 12. Thereafter the intermediate medium 11 and theimage-receiving medium 12 pass through the paired silicone rubber roller14 and heating roller 15, then pass through the paired rollers 16 and 17in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, thereby transferringthe laminate from the intermediate medium 11 to the image-receivingmedium 12. Subsequently, the image-receiving medium 12 further passesthrough a pair of a metallic roller 40 and a heating silicone rubberroller 41 pressed with each other, thus fixing the laminate on theimage-receiving medium 12. When the image-receiving medium 12 is porouslike a plain paper, the laminate is pressed (or thermally pressed) intofibers. Accordingly, glossiness of the region where the laminate existsis remarkably lowered to a level almost the same as that of other regionof the plain paper. Thus, it becomes possible to realize a fixing imagehaving no virtual unevenness of glossiness. The glossiness desirablewould be less than 20 and preferably less than 10.

The metallic roller 40 and the heating silicone rubber roller 41,mutually pressed with each other in the condition shown in FIG. 3, atleast one of them can be a movable type which is/are brought intocontact with an opponent roller only when the fixing processing isrequired, like a mechanism of the silicone rubber roller 14 and the heatroller 15. The fixing processing disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication No. HEI 4-196707/1992 can be applied to the presentinvention. For example, the heating silicone rubber roller 41 can be anendless type travelling on a heating section, or an endless typeequipped with a resistance heating section.

Other embodiment of the printing method for obtaining print image havinglow glossiness will be explained below. In FIG. 1, the image-receivingmedium 12 with the laminate attached thereon, which is once output intothe tray 21, is again fed between the rollers 14 and 15 in such a mannerthe laminate faces to the silicone rubber roller 14 (i.e. arepresentative of an elastic roller). With this fixing operation, printimage having low glossiness is obtained. In this case, it is preferablethat the silicone rubber roller 14 is heated by the heating roller 15 orthat the silicone rubber roller 14 is a heating silicone rubber rolleraccommodating a heater or the like.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a principle of the printing method inaccordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The image-forming layer transfer medium 3 is the same as theone disclosed in the first embodiment. An intermediate medium 50 has anelastic layer 51 formed thereon at least partly. The elastic layer 51can has a surface treatment layer for facilitating transfer of the dyeanti-diffusion layer and others onto the surface thereof.

First, the laminate 28 of the image-forming layer transfer medium 3 istransferred onto the elastic layer 51 by heat and/or pressure by meansof the printing head 1. Subsequently, each dye of color layers 8, 9 and10 of the image-forming layer transfer medium 3 is transferred into thedyeing layer 7 of the laminate formed on the elastic layer of theintermediate medium 50 in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG. 1,thereby accomplishing image printing operation of respective colors.

Next, a plain paper is used as the image-receiving medium 12 in the samemanner as in the previous embodiments. The laminate consisting of thedye anti-diffusion layer and the dyeing layer is overlapped with theplain paper. The intermediate medium 50 and the plain paper integratedwith each other pass through the paired rollers 14 and 15, so that thelaminate is transferred and fixed on the plain paper, thus outputtingthe plain paper with low glossy image printed thereon into a tray 53.The laminate on the intermediate medium 50 is applied a fixingprocessing by the elastic layer 51 when it passes through the pairedrollers 14 and 15 as well as transferred onto the plain paper.Therefore, the print image obtained on the plain paper has lowglossiness. On the other hand, if high glossiness is required, it willbe desirable to use a non-porous image-receiving medium such as apolymeric sheet or a coated paper including an art sheet.

Furthermore, the following printing method would be effective to obtainprint image having low glossiness. In FIG. 4, the laminate of theimage-forming layer transfer medium 3 is transferred onto the regionother than the elastic layer 51. Each dye of the color layers 8, 9 and10 of the image-forming layer transfer medium 3 is transferred into thedyeing layer of the laminate consisting of the dye anti-diffusion layerand the dying layer formed on the intermediate medium 50, therebyaccomplishing image printing operation of respective colors. Theintermediate medium 50 with the laminate thereon and the image-receivingmedium 12 (e.g. a plain paper) integrated with each other pass throughthe paired rollers 14 and 15, so that the laminate is transferred fromthe intermediate medium 50 onto the image-receiving medium 12, thusoutputting the image-receiving medium with laminate substance thereoninto the tray 53.

Next, the plain paper with the laminate thereon is returned on theintermediate medium 50 by means of a driving roller 52. Keeping acondition that the elastic layer 51 of the intermediate medium 50 isoverlapped with the laminate on the plain paper, the intermediate medium50 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction so that the plain paperand the intermediate medium 50 pass through the paired rollers 14 and15. In this case, the elastic layer 51 acts to fix the laminate on theplain paper. Thus, print image having low glossiness is formed on theplain paper.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a principle of the printing method inaccordance with still further another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. An image-forming layer transfer medium 54, shown inFIG. 5 as a typical example, comprises a support 26, releasing layers 6,sequential laminates 28, color layers and sensor marks. The support 26consists of a polymeric film 4, an anchor coat layer 5 formed on thepolymeric film 4 and a back coat layer 30 formed under the polymericfilm 4. The laminate 28 consisting of a dyeing layer 7 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 is formed on the support 26 via the releasinglayer 6. A yellow color layer 8, a magenta color layer 9 and a cyancolor layer 10 are sequentially disposed along a surface on the support26. (Refer to an enlarged cross-sectional view of the image-forminglayer transfer medium 54.) Sensor marks 29 are formed on the support 26to detect the laminate 28 and a head of sequential color layers, i.e.the yellow color layer 8.

Printing method of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is similar to that of theembodiment of FIG. 1, and therefore will be no more explained.

In the formation of the thermal transfer image into the dyeing layer ofthe laminate of the intermediate medium in each embodiment, and moreparticularly in the image formation into the dyeing layer of thelaminate using a transfer medium having a plurality of different colorlayers such as yellow, magenta and cyan color layers, a color image isformed into the dyeing layer of one laminate using a plurality of colorlayers. Or it will be preferable to print each color image independentlyinto the dyeing layer of its corresponding laminate on the intermediatemedium in accordance with each color layer, in a case where theimage-forming layer transfer medium has a plurality of separatedlaminates on the support thereof. Especially, in the latter case, imageof plural colors or full color will be formed by transferring thelaminate of each color onto the image-receiving medium in an overlappedmanner.

Although the above-explained embodiments show the laminate 28 of theimage-forming layer transfer medium as consisting of only the dyeinglayer 7 and the dye anti-diffusion layer 27, the printing method of thepresent invention can be equally realized by using a laminate consistingof a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layersequentially laminated in this order or a laminate consisting of adyeing layer, a dye anti-diffusion layer and a protecting layersequentially laminated in this order.

Furthermore, the image-forming layer transfer medium the presentinvention is not limited to the one disclosed in the above embodiments,such as the one having the support 26 on which the laminate 28 and thecolor layers 8, 9 and 10 are formed. For example, the transfer mediumcan include other layers in addition to each layer of the dyeing layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer and/or color layers, or include otherlayers in addition to each layer of the dyeing layer, the dyeanti-diffusion layer, the protecting layer and/or color layers.

Moreover, in a case where usage of a plurality transfer media isallowed, it will be possible to use a transfer medium only havingvarious layers other than the layers above explained together with atransfer medium loading a dyeing layer, a dye anti-diffusion layer, aprotecting layer and/or color layers. As one example, a transfer mediumfor other various layers may include a support with a polymericsubstance layer, an ultraviolet ray absorption agent layer or an overcoat layer formed thereon spaced with each other or piled upsequentially. These layers can be used or transferred as occasiondemands in each step of the printing process (for example, before andafter the laminate is formed on the intermediate medium, after image isprinted in the dyeing layer of the laminate, or after the laminate istransferred onto the image-receiving medium, etc). Still further, atransfer medium may includes a heat-sensitive transferring pigment inklayer as one of various layers. In the transfer operation of, forexample, the laminate from the transfer medium to the intermediatemedium, the laminate is peeled off from the support at an interfacebetween the laminate and the support or an interface between thereleasing layer and the laminate. This is the same in a case where adyeing layer, a dye anti-diffusion layer, a protecting layer or otherlayers are separately formed on the support or the releasing layer. Thereleasing layer may contain adhesive agent.

In a case where the image-forming layer transfer medium has a support onwhich a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layerare formed at different positions thereon in the same manner asexplained with reference to FIG. 3 which shows the image-forming layertransfer medium having a support on which a dyeing layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer are formed at different positions, it becomespossible to form a laminate of the dye anti-diffusion layer, theprotecting layer and the dyeing layer sequentially laminated in thismanner, or a laminate of the protecting layer, the dye anti-diffusionlayer and the dyeing layer sequentially laminated in this manner, on theintermediate medium by successively transferring the dye anti-diffusionlayer, the protecting layer and the dyeing layer, or by successivelytransferring the dyeing layer, the dye anti-diffusion layer and theprotecting layer.

In the same manner, in a case where the image-forming layer transfermedium has a support on which a sequential substance consisting of adyeing layer and a protecting layer is formed separately from a dyeanti-diffusion layer, or in a case where the image-forming layertransfer medium has a support on which a sequential substance consistingof a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer is formed separatelyfrom a protecting layer, it is possible to form a sequential laminate ofthe dye anti-diffusion layer, the protecting layer and the dyeing layeror a sequential laminate of the protecting layer, the dye anti-diffusionlayer and the dyeing layer on the intermediate medium.

The intermediate medium 11, shown as an endless belt in the embodiments,can be any other type such as a drum or a film. An example of theintermediate medium would be, for example, various polymeric films,coated polymeric films, various conductive films or drums with surfacescoated by the following materials. The various polymeric films would be,for example, polyolefine group, polyamide group, polyester group,polyimide group, polyether group, cellulose group, polyparabanic acidgroup, polyoxadiazole group, polystyrene group, and fluorine-containinggroup films. Particularly, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylenenaphthalate, aromatic polyamide, triacetyl cellulose, polyparabanicacid, polysulfone, and polyimide films would be suitable.

Furthermore, the following materials would be desirable as intermediatemedium. Or, the intermediate medium would be a film or a drum on thesurface of which a hard substance of acrylate resin is formed. Anexample of the acrylate resin would be, for example, polyester acrylateresin, urethane acrylate resin (e.g. polyester urethane acrylate resin,polyether urethane acrylate resin etc), epoxy acrylate resins,spiroacetal resin, silicone acrylate resin etc.

The intermediate medium may has a surface containing various adhesiveagents, various particulates (super particulates), releasing agents, orantistatic agents. Composite amorphous silica, titanium oxide, calciumcarbonate, alumina, talc, carbon black or the like would berecommendable as various particulates. Various coupling agents, such assilane coupling agent, would be used in addition to variousparticulates. As a releasing agent, a material explained with referenceto the following releasing layer 6 will be used. Roughing of the surfaceby use of particulates and/or addition of adhesive agents increases thearea of the surface of the intermediate medium, and addition ofreleasing agents enable to control the surface characteristics.

The elastic layer 51 is an elastic member showing rubber hardness lessthan 90° at the atmospheric temperature less than 100° C. (e.g. a roomtemperature) or a material having glass transition temperature less than60° C.

The elastic layer 51 would be, for example, a fluoride rubber such as acopolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoride ethylene chloride, acopolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoride propylene, a copolymerof vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoride propylene and tetrafluorideethylene, and a copolymer of tetrafluoride ethylene and propylene, asilicone rubber of hardening type, a fluorine-containing siliconerubber, an urethane rubber, a chloroprene rubber, an isoprene rubber, abutyl rubber, a butadiene rubber, a nitryl-butadien rubber, an acrylicrubber, an epichlorohydrine rubber, a styrene-butadien rubber, apropylene oxide rubber, an ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber, anethylene-acrylic rubber, a nitryl hydride rubber, a polysulfide rubberor a natural rubber. The elastic member would be, for example, variousthermoplastic elastomer of urethane, polyester, olefin, styrene,polyamide, vinyl chloride, fluorine-containing groups, or a blowingagent. Furthermore, the elastic member would be made from emulsion ofvarious urethane of polyether group and polyester group, epoxy,copolymer of styrene and butadien, copolymer of acrylonitrile-butadien,acrylic, silicone, fluorine-containing group or the like. The elasticmember is not related to bridge structure. The elastic member maycontain various particulates such as carbon, white carbon, red oxideetc, or colorant such as pigment, or releasing agent.

FIGS. 6 through 37 are cross-sectional views schematically showingimage-forming layer transfer media in accordance with the preferredembodiments of the present invention.

The image-forming layer transfer medium includes a support on which asequential substance consisting of at least a dyeing layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer is formed, or a support on which a dyeing layer anda dye anti-diffusion layer are formed separately from each other. Or theimage-forming layer transfer medium can be divided into a plurality oftransfer media including a transfer medium comprising a support on whicha dyeing layer is formed and another transfer medium comprising asupport on which a die anti-diffusion layer is formed. Otherwise, theimage-forming layer transfer medium includes a support on which at leasta dyeing layer and a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer.

In each of the above-described image-forming layer transfer medium, areleasing layer can be interposed between the support and the dyeinglayer, and/or between the support and the protecting layer, and/orbetween the support and the dye anti-diffusion layer. Furthermore, eachof the above-described image-forming layer transfer medium (or at leastone transfer medium when the image-forming layer transfer mediumconsists of a plurality of transfer media) comprises at least one colorlayer on the support.

An example of the image-forming layer transfer medium comprising atleast a dyeing layer and a protecting layer and a die anti-diffusionlayer formed on its support would be as follows.

A dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a die anti-diffusion layer can beprovided at different positions on a support.

Or, a sequential laminate consisting of a dyeing layer and a protectinglayer can be provided at a position different from that of a dieanti-diffusion layer on the support.

Or, a sequential laminate consisting of a dyeing layer and a dieanti-diffusion layer can be provided at a position different from thatof a protecting layer on a support.

Or, a sequential laminate consisting of a dyeing layer, a protectinglayer and a die anti-diffusion layer piled up in this order can beprovided on a support.

Or, a sequential laminate consisting of a dyeing layer, a dieanti-diffusion layer and a protecting layer piled up in this order canbe provided on a support.

Although not shown in the drawings, the image-forming layer transfermedium can be divided into three transfer media, a transfer mediumhaving a dyeing layer on its support, a transfer medium having aprotecting layer on its support, and a transfer medium having a dyeanti-diffusion layer on its support.

Or, the image-forming layer transfer medium can be divided into twotransfer media, a transfer medium having a sequential laminateconsisting of a dyeing layer and a protecting layer formed on itssupport and a transfer medium having a dye anti-diffusion layer on itssupport.

Or, the image-forming layer transfer medium can be divided into twotransfer media, a transfer medium having a sequential laminateconsisting of a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer formed onits support and a transfer medium having a protecting layer on itssupport. When the image-forming layer transfer medium is constituted bya plurality of separated transfer media, at least one of plural transfermedia can further include at least one color layer provided on itssupport.

FIG. 6 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising a support61 consisting of a polymeric film 4 with a back coat layer 30, a dyeinglayer 7 formed on the support 61, and a dye anti-diffusion layer 27formed on the dyeing layer 7 which are sequentially piled up on thesupport 61.

FIG. 7 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising a support61 identical with that of FIG. 6, a releasing layer 6 formed on thesupport 61, a dyeing layer 7 formed on the releasing layer 6, and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 formed on the dyeing layer 7 which aresequentially piled up on the support 61.

FIG. 8 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising a support60 on which a dye anti-diffusion layer 27 and a dyeing layer 7 areformed at different positions.

FIG. 9 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising a support60, a releasing layer 6 formed on the support 60, a dye anti-diffusionlayer 27 and a dyeing layer 7 formed at different positions on thereleasing layer 6.

FIG. 10 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 62 consisting of a polymeric film 4 with one surface on which ananchor coat layer 5 is formed and an opposite surface on which a backcoat layer 30 is formed, a sequential laminate consisting of a releasinglayer 6, a dyeing layer 7 and a die anti-diffusion layer 27 sequentiallypiled up on the anchor coat layer 5, a yellow color layer 8, a magentacolor layer 9, and a cyan color layer 10 provided on the anchor coatlayer 5 separately from each other at positions different from that ofthe sequential laminate.

FIG. 11 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7 and a dye anti-diffusion layer 27are sequentially piled up, wherein the area of the die anti-diffusionlayer 27 is larger than that of the dyeing layer 7.

FIG. 12 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60, a releasing layer 6 formed on the support 60, a dyeing layer7 and a dye anti-diffusion layer 27 sequentially piled up on thereleasing layer 6, wherein the area of the die anti-diffusion layer 27is larger than that of the dyeing layer 7.

FIG. 13 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 61 consisting of a polymeric film 4 with a back coat layer 30, areleasing layer 6 formed on the polymeric film 4, a dyeing layer 7 and adye anti-diffusion layer 27 sequentially piled up on the releasing layer6 in the same manner as in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7 and a dye anti-diffusion layer 27are sequentially piled up, wherein the area of the dyeing layer 7 islarger than that of the die anti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 15 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7 and a dye anti-diffusion layer 27are sequentially piled up, wherein a part of the dyeing layer 7 is baredor uncovered by the dye anti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 16 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a dye anti-diffusion layer 27, anda protecting layer 70 are separately provided.

FIG. 17 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a sequentially piled up substance of a dyeing layerT and a protecting layer 70 is formed separately from a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 18 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a sequentially piled up substance of a dyeing layer7 and a dye anti-diffusion layer 27 is formed separately from aprotecting layer 70.

FIG. 19 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60, a releasing layer 6 formed on the support 60, a dyeing layer7, a protecting layer 70 and a dye anti-diffusion layer 27 sequentiallypiled up on the releasing layer 6.

FIG. 20 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 61 consisting of a polymeric film 4 with a back coat layer 30, areleasing layer 6 formed on the polymeric film 4, a dyeing layer 7, adye anti-diffusion layer 27 and a protecting layer 70 sequentially piledup on the releasing layer 6.

FIG. 21 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a protecting layer 70 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 are sequentially piled up, wherein the area ofthe protecting layer 70 is larger than that of the dyeing layer 7 orthat of the dye anti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 22 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60, a releasing layer 6 formed on the support 60, a dyeing layer7, a dye anti-diffusion layer 27 and a protecting layer 70 sequentiallypiled up on the releasing layer 6, wherein the area of the protectinglayer 70 is larger than that of the dyeing layer 7 or that of the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 23 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a sequential laminate of a dyeing layer 7 and aprotecting layer 70 is formed separately from a dye anti-diffusion layer27, wherein the area of the protecting layer 70 is larger than that ofthe dyeing layer 7.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show image-forming layer transfer media comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a protecting layer 70 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 are sequentially piled up, wherein the area ofthe die anti-diffusion layer 27 is larger than that of the dyeing layer7 or that of the protecting layer 70.

FIG. 26 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a dye anti-diffusion layer 27 anda protecting layer 70 are sequentially piled up, wherein the area of thedie anti-diffusion layer 27 is larger than that of the dyeing layer 7 orthat of the protecting layer 70.

FIG. 27 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a sequential laminate of a dyeing layer 7 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 is formed separately from a protecting layer 70,wherein the area of the die anti-diffusion layer 27 is larger than thatof the dyeing layer 7.

FIG. 28 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a protecting layer 70 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 are sequentially piled up, wherein the dyeinglayer 7 is covered by both the protecting layer 70 and the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 29 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a protecting layer 70 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 are sequentially piled up, wherein a part of theprotecting layer 70 protrudes farther than the dyeing layer 7 and thedye anti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 30 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a dye anti-diffusion layer 27 anda protecting layer 70 are sequentially piled up, wherein a part of theprotecting layer 70 protrudes farther than the dyeing layer 7 and thedye anti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 31 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a protecting layer 70 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 are sequentially piled up, wherein the area ofthe dyeing layer 7 is larger than that of the protecting layer 70 orthat of the dye anti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 32 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a protecting layer 70 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 are formed separately from each other, whereinthe area of the dyeing layer 7 is larger than that of the protectinglayer 70 or that of the dye anti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 33 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a dyeing layer 7, a protecting layer 70 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 are sequentially piled up, wherein a part of thedyeing layer 7 protrudes farther than the protecting layer 70 and thedye anti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 34 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a sequential laminate of a dyeing layer 7 and aprotecting layer 70 is formed separately from a dye anti-diffusion layer27, wherein a part of the dyeing layer 7 protrudes farther than theprotecting layer 70.

FIG. 35 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 60 on which a sequential laminate of a dyeing layer 7 and a dyeanti-diffusion layer 27 is formed separately from a protecting layer 70,wherein a part of the dyeing layer 7 protrudes farther than the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 36 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 62 consisting of a polymeric film 4 with one surface a back coatlayer 30 is formed and an opposite surface on which an anchor coat layer5 is formed, a sequential laminate consisting of a dyeing layer 7 and adie anti-diffusion layer 27 sequentially piled up on the anchor coatlayer 5 via a releasing layer 6, a yellow color layer 8, a magenta colorlayer 9, and a cyan color layer 10 provided on the anchor coat layer 5separately from each other at positions different from that of thesequential laminate, and sensor marks 29, --- , 29 provided on theanchor coat layer 5 for detecting the position of each of the laminateor color layers.

FIG. 37 shows an image-forming layer transfer medium comprising asupport 62 identical with the one disclosed in FIG. 36, a sequentiallaminate consisting of a dyeing layer 7, a protecting layer 70 and a dieanti-diffusion layer 27 sequentially piled up on the anchor coat layer 5via a releasing layer 6, a yellow color layer 8, a magenta color layer9, and a cyan color layer 10 provided on the anchor coat layer 5separately from each other at positions different from that of thesequential laminate, and sensor marks 29 and 29 provided on the anchorcoat layer 5 for detecting the position of the laminate or the positionof the head of color layers, wherein the area of the protecting layer 70is larger than that of the dyeing layer 7 or that of the dyeanti-diffusion layer 27.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 6 through 37, if the area of each layer isnot particularly set forth, the area of each layer can be the same ordifferent.

It the embodiments of FIGS. 28, 31, 33 and 37, the uppermost layer canbe the protecting layer 70. The dyeing layer, the protecting layer, orthe dye anti-diffusion layer can have a multi-layer structure. Apolymeric substance layer can be formed on the dyeing layer, or on thedye anti-diffusion layer, or the protecting layer, or on the support. Itwill be desirable that the dyeing layer, the protecting layer, the dyeanti-diffusion layer, or the polymeric substance layer containsultraviolet ray absorbing agent, light stabilizing agent, orantioxidant. The ultraviolet ray absorbing agent would be, for example,benzophenone group, diphenyl acrylate group, and benzotriazole group.The light stabilizing agent would be, for example, hindered amine group,and benzoate group. The antioxidant would be, for example, hinderedphenolic compound.

Material used for the support of the transfer medium is not speciallylimited. For example, various polymeric films, coated polymeric films,various conductive films would be suitable. Various polymeric filmsinclude polyolefine group polyamide group, polyester group, polyimidegroup, polyether group, cellulose group, polyparabanic acid group,polyoxadiazole group, polystyrene group, and fluorine-containing groupfilms. Particularly, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylenenaphthalate, aromatic polyamide, triacetyl cellulose, polyparabanicacid, polysulfone, polypropylene, cellophane or polyethylene would besuitable.

A support, having at least one surface with a heat-resisting layerand/or a lubricating layer, would be preferable in view of improvementof heat durability or travelling stability relative to the printinghead. A support, made of polymeric film or conductive film comprising abonding layer (anchor coat layer) provided on a surface which is broughtinto contact with color layers containing sublimable (diffusible)dyestuff to prevent color layers from being peeled off from the filmduring the printing operation. A preferable conductive film would be,for example, a polymeric film containing various conductive particulatessuch as carbon black, metallic powder or the like, or a polymeric filmwith a conductive coating layer, or a polymeric film having a conductivedeposition layer.

The dyeing layer 7 is formed by using polymeric material. The onedisclosed in the Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 4-196707/1992 canbe used in the present invention. A dyeing layer, made of polyvinylacetal group resin, would be preferable.

The dye anti-diffusion layer 27 is formed by using polymeric substance,which would be a polymeric substance having a glass transition point(Tg) higher than that of the dyeing layer, a polymeric substance havinga softening point higher than that of the dyeing layer, a resin having aremarkably low dyeing ability, or a material having thermal diffusioncharacteristics of dyestuff worse than that of the dyeing layer. Apolymeric substance, having a glass transition point or a softeningpoint approximately 20° C., preferably 30° C., higher than that of thedyeing layer, would be recommendable. The higher the glass transitionpoint or the softening point, the better the capability of preventingdyestuff from diffusing. A preferable polymeric substance would be, forexample, various thermoplastic resin, various hardening resinsresponsive to heat, light, electron beam etc. The polymeric substancedisclosed in the Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 4-198707/1992 canbe used in the present invention. The dye anti-diffusion layer maycontain a fluorine-containing moisture curable resin, asiloxane-containing moisture curable resin, or various releasing agentsor adhesive agents for the releasing layer disclosed below. A dyeanti-diffusion layer, containing polyvinyl butyral and/or polyvinylalcohol, would be recommendable.

The protecting layer 70 is formed by using polymeric substance. Thepolymeric substance used for the protecting layer would be, for example,various thermoplastic resins, various hardening resins responsive toheat, light, electron beam etc. The material for the dyeing layer or thepolymeric substance layer disclosed in the Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. HEI 4-196707/1992 can be used in the present invention. When thedyeing layer is made of a resin having a low glass transition point or alow softening point, reserving the image-forming layer transfer mediumin a wound condition at a higher temperature will encounter withdifficulty. Therefore a protecting layer, made of a polymeric substancehaving a glass transition point or a softening point higher than that ofthe resin of the dyeing layer, would be recommendable. The protectinglayer 70 can have a dyeing function as well as the dyeing layer 7, andalso have a function of protecting dyestuff from diffusing as well as adye anti-diffusion layer 27. The protecting layer may contain a fluorinemoisture containing hardening resin, a siloxane moisture containinghardening resin, or various releasing agents or adhesive agents for thereleasing layer disclosed below. A protecting, containing polyvinylbutyral and/or acetoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol, would berecommendable.

The releasing layer 6 is not particularly limited in material. Thematerial disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application No. HEI4-196707/1992 can be used in the present invention. A preferablecombination would be, for example, various thermoplastic resins orvarious hardening resins responsive to heat, light and electron beam, orvarious reactive resins bridging by various bridging agent such asisocyanate, and various reactive silicone oils, modified silicone oils,silicone modified resins (e.g. silicone modified acrylic resin), orfluorine modified resins (e.g. fluorine modified acrylic resin),reactive silicone resins (e.g. rubbers).

Particularly, silicone modified resins (e.g. silicone modified acrylicresin) or fluorine modified resins (e.g. fluorine modified acrylicresin), various silicone rubbers of heat curing type or room-temperaturehardening type or liquid type, or various reactive silicone resins ofcondensed reaction type or additional reaction type, peroxide-hardeningtype or ultraviolet ray hardening type would be used independently.

The polymeric substance layer is formed by using at least polymericsubstance. The polymeric substance is not particularly limited inmaterial. The polymeric substance to be used for the dye anti-diffusionlayer, the protecting layer or the dyeing layer can be used for thispolymeric substance layer. A polymeric substance having a glasstransition point more than 60° C. would be preferable.

By the way, the polymeric substance disclosed in this invention shouldbe understood that it has a glass transition point or a softening pointthan that of the polymeric substance to be compared if its glasstransition point or softening point is not mentioned.

The dyeing layer, the protecting layer, the dye anti-diffusion layerand/or the polymeric substance layer can contain various surface activeagents. When the dyeing layer is formed on the releasing layer, it willbe preferable to add surface active agent of fluorine group or the liketo the paint for forming the dyeing layer to prevent repelling. (Forexample,"MEGAFAC" available from Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Inc.)

Polyvinyl acetal used for the dyeing layer, the protecting layer, thedye anti-diffusion layer and/or the polymeric substance layer canflexibly change print sensitivity in the dyeing layer orthermodurability in each layer by varying mixing ratio of its rawmaterials.

The top layer of the sequential laminate, such as a sequential laminateof the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer or a sequentiallaminate of the dyeing layer, the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer or any other sequential laminate disclosed in thisinvention, acts as a film strength reinforcing member. Especially, in agravure printing, it is difficult to form an uniform film excellent insurface smoothness; however, this invention makes it possible to formsuch an excellent film due to the existence of the top layer even whenthe film thickness of each layer is not larger than 2 μm, particularlyless than 1.5 μm.

The coloring layers are formed by using at least coloring agent andbinding agent. The color layers disclosed in the Japanese PatentApplication No. HEI 4-196707/1992 can be used in this invention. Thetransfer medium may include a thermal-melting type color layer inaddition to color layers containing sublimable (or diffusible) dyestuff.It is possible to use two transfer media, a transfer medium includingsublimable color layers and a transfer medium including only athermal-melting type color layer. The construction for providing thecolor layers on the support of the image-forming layer transfer mediumis not particularly limited; therefore the color layers can be, forexample, laid sequentially on a surface of the support as shown in FIG.36.

Formation of each layer on the support is carried out by printing and/orcoating. It is also possible to provide some layers on another mediumbeforehand and transfer them onto the support of the image-forming layertransfer medium. For example, when the dyeing layer or the like areformed on the support by gravure printing method, a plurality ofimage-forming layer transfer media identical with each other (e.g. 90 mmwide each) are printed on a wide support (e.g. 600 mm wide) and are,thereafter, separated into individual image-forming layer transfer mediaby slitting each along the longitudinal direction of the support.

Using an image-forming layer transfer medium, including at least adyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer or at least a dyeing layer,a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer (or above-describedimage-forming layer transfer medium), a sequential laminate of the dyeanti-diffusion layer and the dyeing layer, a sequential laminate of thedye anti-diffusion layer, the protecting layer and the dyeing layer, ora sequential laminate of the protecting layer, the dye anti-diffusionlayer and the dyeing layer can be formed on the intermediate medium.When image is printed in the dyeing layer, dyestuff of the dyeing layercannot diffuse to or reach the intermediate medium due to the presenceof a single layer of the dye anti-diffusion layer or a combination ofthe dye anti-diffusion layer and the protecting layer interposed betweenthe intermediate medium and the dyeing layer.

Furthermore, when the sequential laminate carrying the print image istransferred from the intermediate medium to the image-receiving medium,the intermediate medium is not contaminated by the dyestuff because thedye anti-diffusion layer exists closer to the intermediate medium.

Especially, an image-forming layer transfer medium, including asequential laminate of a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer formed on a support, the protecting layer having anarea larger than that of the dyeing layer or the dye anti-diffusionlayer, the protecting layer having a glass transition point or asoftening point higher than that of the dyeing layer, and the dyeanti-diffusion layer having a glass transition point or a softeningpoint higher than that of the protecting layer, will not contaminate theintermediate medium because the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer have a glass transition point or a softening pointhigher than that of the dyeing layer. As a result, printed image is freefrom contamination by dyestuff, and the print density of the imageobtained is satisfactory because no dyestuff is lost.

Furthermore, when the laminate is transferred onto the image-receivingmedium, the dyeing layer carrying the print image is sandwiched betweenthe image-receiving medium and the dye anti-diffusion layer. Therefore,in the fixing processing, it can be prevented that the dyeing layer isdirectly brought into contact with the fixing medium such as a fixingroller. Moreover, due to presence of the dye anti-diffusion layer on thesurface of the dyeing layer, the fixing medium can be prevented frombeing contaminated by dyestuff. For example, when the fixing medium is afixing roller, as the fixing roller is not contaminated after making onecomplete revolution, there is no possibility that the print image fixedin the first revolution of the fixing roller is transferred to a printportion to be fixed in the second revolution of the fixing roller.

In the case of an image-forming layer transfer medium including asupport on which at least a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layeror at least a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusionlayer are formed to constitute a sequential laminate of the dyeing layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer, a sequential laminate of the dyeinglayer, the protecting layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer, asequential laminate of the dyeing layer, the dye anti-diffusion layerand the protecting layer, or a sequential laminate of the dyeing layerand the protecting layer, it may happen that the image-forming layertransfer medium is reserved in a wound condition at a high temperature.In such a case, covering the dyeing layer by the protecting layer and/orthe dye anti-diffusion layer whose area are larger than that of thedyeing layer, or covering the dyeing layer by both the protecting layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer, or heightening the glass transitionpoint or the softening point of the polymeric substance forming theprotecting layer and/or the dye anti-diffusion layer than that of thepolymeric substance forming the dyeing layer, would be effective toprevent the dyeing layer from being directly brought into contact withthe reverse surface of the support in the wound condition, thus causingno thermal melting of the dyeing layer to the reverse surface of thesupport even if the dyeing layer has a low glass transition point or asoftening point.

On the other hand, with respect to a low-temperature transfer, in aconstruction having a support and a sequential laminate of a dyeinglayer and a dye anti-diffusion layer formed thereon, the dyeing layerhaving a glass transition point or a softening point lower than that ofthe dye anti-diffusion layer, and the dyeing layer having an area largerthan that of the dye anti-diffusion layer, when the sequential laminateis transferred to an intermediate medium or an image-receiving medium,the transfer is smoothly carried out from an end region of the laminatedue to existence of the dyeing layer having a low softening point atthat end region. Easiness of overall transfer greatly depends oneasiness of starting the transfer from the end region of the polymericfilm. Thus, the construction and material of that end region of the filmhas a great affection.

Similarly, by letting a part of the dyeing layer protruding farther thanthe dye anti-diffusion layer so that the transfer begins from theprotruding region, the transfer will be smoothly carried out even in lowtemperatures.

Furthermore, in an image-forming layer transfer medium including asupport on which at least a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer are formed, if the dyeing layer has a glasstransition point or a softening point lower than that of the protectinglayer or the dye anti-diffusion layer and the dyeing layer has an arealarger than that of the protecting layer or the dye anti-diffusionlayer, the transfer of the sequential laminate from the transferbeginning point will be smoothly carried out at lower temperatures whenthe sequential laminate is transferred from the intermediate medium tothe image-receiving medium.

Furthermore, in an image-forming layer transfer medium including asupport on which at least a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer are formed, if there is formed a sequentiallaminate of the dyeing layer and the protecting layer or a sequentiallaminate of the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer, thetransfer beginning point of the laminate will be easily transferred atleast to the intermediate medium at lower temperatures by lowering theglass transition point or the softening point of the dyeing layer thanthat of the protecting layer or the dye anti-diffusion layer, and byprotruding a part of the dyeing layer farther than the protecting layeror the dye anti-diffusion layer.

Similarly, if there is formed a sequential laminate of the dyeing layer,the protecting layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer or a sequentiallaminate of the dyeing layer, the dye anti-diffusion layer and theprotecting layer, the transfer beginning point of the laminate will beeasily transferred to the intermediate medium or the image-receivingmedium at lower temperatures by protruding a part of the dyeing layerfarther than both of the protecting layer and the dye anti-diffusionlayer.

Moreover, if the glass transition point or the softening point of theprotecting layer is lower than that of the dye anti-diffusion layer, andthe area of the protecting layer is larger than that of the dyeing layeror the dye anti-diffusion layer, and the protecting layer having a lowsoftening point exists at an end of the laminate, the transfer beginningpoint of the laminate will be easily transferred to the image-receivingmedium at lower temperatures.

Moreover, if a sequential laminate of the dyeing layer, the protectinglayer and the dye anti-diffusion layer or a sequential laminate of thedyeing layer, the dye anti-diffusion layer and the protecting layer isformed on the support, or a sequential laminate of the dyeing layer andthe protecting layer is formed on the support separately from the dyeanti-diffusion layer, the transfer beginning point of the laminate willbe easily transferred to the intermediate medium or the image-receivingmedium at lower temperatures by lowering the glass transition point orthe softening point of the protecting layer than that of the dyeanti-diffusion layer, or by protruding a part of the protecting layerfarther than the dyeing layer and/or the dye anti-diffusion layer.

Softening point is a softening temperature (Ts) measured by a flowtester, and is not a flow beginning temperature (Tfb). A preferable flowtester would be, for example, SHIMADZU FLOW TESTER CFT-500A or CFT-500C,manufactured by SHIMADZU Corporation.

EXAMPLE 1

* Image-forming Layer Transfer Medium

An image-forming layer transfer medium of this example 1 includes apolyethylene terephthalate (abbreviated PET) of 100 mm wide and 5 μmthick, having a slidable heat-resisting layer at a lower surface thereofand an anchor coat layer at an upper surface thereof. On the anchor coatlayer, there is formed the construction identical with the image-forminglayer transfer medium 3 shown in FIG. 1, using coating materialsdescribed below. Namely, a sequential laminate of a dyeing layer and adye ant-diffusion layer is formed on the anchor coat layer via areleasing layer provided on the anchor coat layer, while yellow, magentaand cyan color layers are sequentially provided or printed on the anchorcoat layer along a surface thereof, spaced from the sequential laminateof the dyeing layer and the dye ant-diffusion layer.

Furthermore, a plurality of sensor marks are printed on the anchor coatlayer closely to the sequential laminate and each color layer to detecttheir positions respectively. After executing the printing by thegravure method, the image-forming layer transfer medium is dried.

As to film thicknesses, the releasing layer is 0.3 μm, the dyeing layeris approximately 1 μm, the dye anti-diffusion layer is approximately 1.5μm, and each color layer is approximately 1 μm.

    ______________________________________                                        *Releasing Layer Coating Material                                             Silicone Resin          10     weight part                                    (KS-847H, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)                                       Catalyst                0.3    weight part                                    (CAT-PL-50T, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)                                    Toluene                 20     weight part                                    *Dyeing Layer Coating Material                                                Polyvinyl butyral Resin 4      weight part                                    [BL-S (Average polymerization degree: approximately 350,                      Tg: approximately 54° C.), Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.]                 Siloxane-containing Acrylsilicon                                                                      0.16   weight part                                    Resin Solution                                                                (F-6A, effective component 54 wt %, Sanyo Chem. Ind. Ltd.)                    Di-n-butyltin dilaurate 0.002  weight part                                    Fluorine-group Surface Active Agent                                                                   0.012  weight part                                    Isopropyl Alcohol       25     weight part                                    *Dye Anti-diffusion Layer Coating Material                                    Acetoacetalized Polyvinyl Alcohol                                                                     4      weight part                                    [KS-O (Average polymerization degree: approximately 300,                      Tg: approximately 110° C.), Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.]                Isopropyl Alcohol       10     weight part                                    2-butanone              15     weight part                                    *Yellow Color Layer Coating Material                                          Pyridonazo-group Diffusible Coating                                                                   3      weight part                                    Material                                                                      Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer Resin                                                                 4      weight part                                    Amide-modified Silicone Oil                                                                           0.04   weight part                                    Titanium Oxide (T805,   0.24   weight part                                    Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.)                                                     Toluene                 25     weight part                                    2-butanone              25     weight part                                    *Magenta Color Layer Coating Material                                         Azo-group Diffusible Coating Material                                                                 3      weight part                                    Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer Resin                                                                 4      weight part                                    Amide-modified Silicone Oil                                                                           0.04   weight part                                    Titanium Oxide (T805,   0.24   weight part                                    Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd)                                                      Toluene                 25     weight part                                    2-butanone              25     weight part                                    *Cyan Color Layer Coating Material                                            Indoaniline-group Diffusible                                                                          3.5    weight part                                    Coating Material                                                              Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer Resin                                                                 4      weight part                                    Amide-modified Silicone Oil                                                                           0.04   weight part                                    Titanium Oxide (T805)   0.24   weight part                                    Toluene                 25     weight part                                    2-butanone              25     weight part                                    ______________________________________                                    

* Intermediate Medium

After forming an anchor coat layer (approximately 0.2 μm thick) on anouter surface of an endless film of polyimide (25 μm thick andapproximately 200 mm long), a coating material, comprising polyesteracrylate resin (M-8100, Toagosei Chem. Ind. Co., Ltd.) 10 weight part,sensitizer (IRGACURE 184, Ciba-Geigy (Japan) Ltd.) 0.3 weight part, andethyl acetate 20 weight part, is coated on the anchor layer and thendried. Thereafter, a hardening film of 3 μm thick is formed byirradiating light emitted from a mercury lamp. A black sensor mark isprovided on the intermediate medium to detect a position where thelaminate (i.e. the laminate of the dye anti-diffusion layer and thedyeing layer in this example) is transferred.

An apparatus having the same construction as that of FIG. 1 is appliedto the above-described example. An image-forming layer transfer mediumexplained above is assembled in a cassette, thus forming theimage-forming layer transfer medium 3 of FIG. 1. An intermediate mediummanufactured according to the above construction is used as theintermediate medium 11 of FIG. 1.

First of all, a first printing operation will be explained.

Position of the intermediate medium is adjusted using a sensor in such amanner that the black sensor mark comes to the position of the platen 2.After position of the laminate of the image-forming layer transfermedium 3 is detected by a sensor, the thermal head (i.e. printing head)is pushed to the platen 2 and, then, the thermal head generates heat,thereby transferring the laminate from the image-forming layer transfermedium to the intermediate medium. The following is transfer energyactuating conditions for this thermal head.

    ______________________________________                                        Transfer speed:       16.8 ms/line                                            Applied pulse width:  8 ms                                                    Transfer energy:      8 J/cm.sup.2                                            ______________________________________                                    

Next, using the yellow color layer of the image-forming layer transfermedium, yellow color gradation image is thermally transferred or printedin the dyeing layer of the intermediate medium. The following isconditions of this printing operation.

    ______________________________________                                        Printing speed:        16.8 ms/line                                           Printing pulse width:  0.8-8 ms                                               Maximum printing energy:                                                                             8 J/cm.sup.2                                           ______________________________________                                    

Subsequently, magenta color and cyan color are successively printed inthe dyeing layer of the intermediate medium in the same manner as theyellow color, thus forming a composite image of these three colors.

A post card is used as the image-receiving medium 12. The dyeing layerof the intermediate medium is overlapped with the post card at aposition upstream of the silicone rubber roller 14 and the heatingroller 15. Then, the heating roller 15 (a metallic roller accommodatinga halogen lamp, with a 150° C. surface temperature, a 25 mm diameter anda 120 mm length) is pressed (at a 150N inter-roller load) against thesilicone rubber roller 14 (a silicone rubber coated roller, with a 40°rubber hardness, a 25 mm diameter and a 120 mm length), the post cardand the intermediate medium pass together through a clearance betweenthe heating roller 15 and the silicone rubber roller 14 (at a 10 mm/stravelling speed), thus outputting the post card into the tray 21.

The printed image of the post card thus obtained revealed that thelaminate was beautifully transferred from the intermediate medium to thepost card. An obtained reflective print density of black color was 1.80at the maximum pulse width 8 ms. It was proved that high-quality printimage could be obtained with uniform dots in a wide range from a lowprint density to a high print density.

Next, a second print operation was conducted.

After a new laminate of a dye anti-diffusion layer and a dyeing layer istransferred from the image-forming layer transfer medium to theintermediate medium in the same manner as the first print operation, thelaminate is thermally transferred from the intermediate medium to theimage-receiving medium 12 (i.e. post card) without executing an imageprint operation using color layers of the image-forming layer transfermedium.

As a result of the above second operation, the laminate obtained on thepost card revealed that no contamination was caused by dyestuff.Furthermore, it was also found that the intermediate medium was notcontaminated by the dyestuff, too. This result apparently proves thatthe dye anti-diffusion layer interposed between the intermediate mediumand the dyeing layer has surely performed its function of preventing thedyestuff from diffusing to and reaching the intermediate medium in thefirst image printing operation and the image transfer to theimage-receiving medium.

EXAMPLE 2

* Image-forming Layer Transfer Medium

An image-forming layer transfer medium of this example 2 includes a PETfilm (100 mm wide and 5 μm thick), having a lower surface on which aslidable heat-resisting layer is formed and an upper surface on which adye anti-diffusion layer, a dyeing layer and three, yellow, magenta andcyan, color layers are sequentially provided along a surface, separatelyfrom each other. The dye anti-diffusion layer and the dyeing layer aredirectly formed on the PET film, while each color layer is provided onthe PET film via an anchor coat layer. The following coating materialsare used for the formation of the dye anti-diffusion layer and thedyeing layer. The same coating materials as the example 1 are used forthe formation of the yellow, magenta and cyan color layers. As to filmthicknesses, the dye anti-diffusion layer is approximately 2.0 μm, thedying layer is approximately1 μm, and each color layer is approximately1 μm. Furthermore, a plurality of black sensor marks are printed on thePET film or the anchor coat layer to detect the position of each layer.

    ______________________________________                                        *Dye Anti-diffusion Layer Coating Material                                    Acetoacetalized Polyvinyl Alcohol                                                                     3      weight part                                    (KS-O)                                                                        Polyvinyl Butyral group Resin                                                                         1      weight part                                    [BX-10 (Average polymerization degree: approximately 250,                     Tg: approximately 74° C.), Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.]                 Isopropyl Alcohol       10     weight part                                    2-butanone              15     weight part                                    *Dyeing Layer Coating Material                                                Polyvinyl butyral Resin 4      weight part                                    [BL-3 (Average polymerization degree: approximately 300,                      Tg: approximately 68° C.), Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.]                 Siloxane-containing Acrylsilicone                                                                     0.24   weight part                                    Resin Solution (F-6A)                                                         Di-n-butyltin dilaurate 0.003  weight part                                    Isopropyl Alcohol       10     weight part                                    2-butanone              15     weight part                                    ______________________________________                                    

* Intermediate Medium

An endless film of polyimide (approximately 25 μm thick andapproximately 200 mm long) is used as the intermediate medium. A blacksensor mark is provided on the polyimide film to detect a position wherethe dye anti-diffusion layer or the like is transferred.

First, the dye anti-diffusion layer of the image-forming layer transfermedium is transferred onto the polyimide film acting as the intermediatemedium by using the printing head. The following is transfer energyactuating conditions for this thermal head. Subsequently, the dyeinglayer of the image-forming layer transfer medium is transferred onto thedye anti-diffusion layer first transferred, thereby forming a sequentiallaminate of the dye anti-diffusion layer and the dyeing layer on theintermediate medium.

    ______________________________________                                        Transfer speed:       16.8 ms/line                                            Applied pulse width:  8 ms                                                    Transfer energy:      9 J/cm.sup.2                                            ______________________________________                                    

Next, using each color layer of the image-forming layer transfer medium,three-color gradation image is thermally transferred or printed in thedyeing layer of the intermediate medium in the same manner as in theexample 1. Subsequently, using a plain paper as the image-receivingmedium, the laminate on the intermediate medium is transferred onto theplain paper in the same manner as in the example 1.

The printed image of the plain paper thus obtained revealed that thelaminate was beautifully transferred from the intermediate medium to theplain paper. An obtained reflective print density of black color was1.78 at the maximum pulse width 8 ms. It was proved that high-qualityprint image could be obtained with uniform dots in a wide range from alow print density to a high print density.

Next, a second print operation was conducted. After a new laminate of adye anti-diffusion layer and a dyeing layer is transferred from theimage-forming layer transfer medium to the intermediate medium in thesame manner as the first print operation, the laminate is thermallytransferred from the intermediate medium onto the plain paper withoutexecuting an image print operation using color layers of theimage-forming layer transfer medium.

As a result of the above second operation, the laminate obtained on theplain paper revealed that no contamination was caused by dyestuff.Furthermore, it was also found that the intermediate medium was notcontaminated by the dyestuff, too. This result apparently proves thatthe dye anti-diffusion layer interposed between the intermediate mediumand the dyeing layer has surely performed its function of preventing thedyestuff from diffusing to and reaching the intermediate medium in thefirst image printing operation and the image transfer to theimage-receiving medium.

EXAMPLE 3

The post card of the example 1, carrying print image, was applied afixing process which made the post card pass through a clearance betweenthe silicone rubber roller 14 (heating silicone rubber roller in thiscase) and the heating roller 15 in substantially the same conditions asthe example 1, with the dyeing layer in a face-to-face relation to thesilicone rubber roller 14, thereby fixing the laminate on the post card.The fixed image of the post card obtain had a surface glossiness of 5.8.A good writing feeling was recognized by a pencil. Although the laminatewas brought into contact with the heating silicone rubber roller 14, itwas found that the surface of the heating silicone rubber roller 14 wasnot at all contaminated by the print image.

EXAMPLE 4

The post card of the example 1, carrying print image, was applied afixing process using the apparatus of FIG. 3 whichis equipped with thefixing rollers (i.e. the metallic roller 40 and the heating siliconerubber roller 41), with the print image surface in a face-to-facerelation to the heating silicone rubber roller 41. A 200N load wasapplied between the metallic roller 40 (with 25 mm diameter and a 120 mmlength) and the heating silicone rubber roller 41 (with a 160° C.surface temperature, a 30° rubber hardness silicone rubber coat, a 25 mmdiameter, a 120 mm length, and a built-in halogen lamp). The fixed imageof the post card obtain had a surface glossiness of 5.7. A good writingfeeling was recognized by a pencil. Although the laminate was broughtinto contact with the heating silicone rubber roller 41, it was foundthat the surface of the heating silicone rubber roller 41 was not at allcontaminated by the print image.

EXAMPLE 5

* Image-forming layer transfer medium

The same structure as the image-forming layer transfer medium of theexample 1.

* Intermediate medium

An endless film of polyimide (25 μm thick) with an elastic layer(approximately 50 μm thick) formed on the outer surface thereof usingthe following elastic layer coating materials. After the coating wasfinished, the elastic layer was applied a thermal processing forapproximately 20 minutes at a 130° C. temperature.

    ______________________________________                                        (Elastic Layer Coating Material)                                              ______________________________________                                        Silicone Resin           10    weight part                                    (SD7328, Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd)                                 Silicon Adhesive Resin   10    weight part                                    (SD4570, Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd)                                 Catalyst                 0.4   weight part                                    (SRX212, Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd)                                 Silica                   1     weight part                                    (AEROSIL, 200, Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd)                                       Silane Coupling Agent    0.1   weight part                                    Toluene                  20    weight part                                    ______________________________________                                    

An apparatus having the fundamental construction of FIG. 4 was appliedto this example 5. Instead of the silicone rubber roller 14 and theheating roller 15 of FIG. 4, the roller 16 was used as the siliconerubber roller 14 and the roller 17 was used as the heating roller 15 forthis example. Furthermore, the above-described intermediate medium wasused as the intermediate medium 50.

Using the same process as the example 1, the laminate 28 was transferredfrom the image-forming layer transfer medium 3 to the elastic layer 51of the intermediate medium 50. Then, the three-color printing operationto the dyeing layer on the intermediate medium 50 and the transfer ofthe laminate (using the rollers 16 and 17) from the intermediate mediumto the post card was carried out. As a result, it was found that eachprocess was nicely conducted. The transfer of the laminate from theintermediate medium to the post card was done under the conditions ofapproximately 150N inter-roller load and a 140° C. roller surfacetemperature.

When the laminate is transferred from the intermediate medium to thepost card, the laminate is pressed into fibers of the post card by theelastic layer. In other words, the laminate is simultaneously fixed whenit is transferred. Thus, in the comparison with an intermediate mediumhaving no elastic layer, it was recognized that usage of the elasticlayer made it possible to obtain a low-glossiness image by only onetransfer operation. An obtained reflective print density of black colorwas 1.40 at the maximum pulse width 8 ms. It was proved thathigh-quality print image could be obtained with uniform dots in a widerange from a low print density to a high print density. The glossinessof the image surface was 7.0 and a good writing feeling was recognizedby a pencil. It was also found that the surface of the elastic layer ofthe intermediate medium was not at all contaminated by the print image.

EXAMPLE 8

* Image-forming Layer Transfer Medium

An image-forming layer transfer medium of this example 6 includes a PETfilm (600 mm wide and 6 μm thick), having a slidable heat-resistinglayer (back coat layer) at a lower surface thereof and an anchor coatlayer at an upper surface thereof. On the anchor coat layer, there isformed the construction identical with the image-forming layer transfermedium shown in FIG. 37 by gravure printing technology, using coatingmaterials described below. Namely, a sequential laminate of a dyeinglayer, protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer is formed on theanchor coat layer via a releasing layer provided on the anchor coatlayer, while yellow, magenta and cyan color layers are sequentiallyprovided or printed on the anchor coat layer along a surface thereof,spaced from the sequential laminate of the dyeing layer, the protectinglayer and the dye ant-diffusion layer in a longitudinal direction of thePET film. Furthermore, a plurality of black sensor marks are printed onthe anchor coat layer closely to detect the positions of the sequentiallaminate and each color layer in the same manner as FIG. 36. The blacksensor mark is formed by using a commercially available gravure ink.

A gravure roller impression (82 mm×102 mm=8364 mm²) used for theprotecting layer was wider 1 mm at the edge thereof than those of thedyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer. The gravure impressionsof the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer have the same area(80 mm×100 mm=8000 mm)

Centers of the dyeing layer, the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer are coincided. Namely, the edge of the protectinglayer protrudes 1 mm outer than the dyeing layer, so that the dyeinglayer is completely covered by the protecting layer.

A finally obtained image-forming layer transfer medium was 92 mm width.The gravure impression of the releasing layer was 388 mm×130 mm, and thegravure impression of each coloring layer was 388×130 mm.

After executing the printing operation of each layer, layers requiringhardening was hardened by applying hot air. As to film thicknesses, thereleasing layer was 0.3 μm, the dyeing layer was approximately 1 μm, theprotecting layer was approximately , 1 μm, the dye anti-diffusion layerwas approximately 2.0 μm, and each color layer was approximately 1 μm.

    ______________________________________                                        *Releasing Layer Coating Material                                             Silicone Resin         10      weight part                                    (KS-847H)                                                                     Catalyst               0.3     weight part                                    (CAT-PL-50T)                                                                  Toluene                10      weight part                                    2-butanone             10      weight part                                    *Dyeing Layer Coating Material                                                Polyvinyl butyral Resin                                                                              4       weight part                                    (BL-S)                                                                        Siloxane-containing Acrylsilicon                                                                     0.10    weight part                                    Resin Solution (F-6A)                                                         Di-n-butyltin dilaurate                                                                              0.0005  weight part                                    Isopropyl Alcohol      12      weight part                                    2-butanone             9       weight part                                    *Protecting layer Coating Material                                            Polyvinyl butyral Group Resin                                                                        1.6     weight part                                    (BX-10)                                                                       Acetoacetalized Polyvinyl Alcohol                                                                    2.4     weight part                                    (KS-O)                                                                        Isopropyl Alcohol      12      weight part                                    2-butanone             9       weight part                                    *Dye Anti-diffusion Layer Coating Material                                    Acetoacetalized Polyvinyl Alcohol                                                                    4       weight part                                    (KS-O)                                                                        Isopropyl Alcohol      12      weight part                                    2-butanone             9       weight part                                    *Yellow Color Layer Coating Material                                          Pyridonazo-group Diffusible                                                                          3       weight part                                    Coating Material                                                              Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer Resin                                                                2       weight part                                    Vinyl chloride-Vinyl acetate                                                                         2       weight part                                    group copolymer resin                                                         Amide-modified Silicone Oil                                                                          0.04    weight part                                    Titanium Oxide (T805)  0.24    weight part                                    Toluene                15      weight part                                    2-butanone             10      weight part                                    *Magenta Color Layer Coating Material                                         Azo-group Diffusible Coating Material                                                                3       weight part                                    Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer Resin                                                                2       weight part                                    Vinyl chloride-Vinyl acetate                                                                         2       weight part                                    group copolymer resin                                                         Amide-modified Silicone Oil                                                                          0.04    weight part                                    Titanium Oxide (T805)  0.24    weight part                                    Toluene                15      weight part                                    2-butanone             10      weight part                                    *Cyan Color Layer Coating Material                                            Indoaniline-group Diffusible                                                                         3.5     weight part                                    Coating Material                                                              Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer Resin                                                                2       weight part                                    Vinyl chloride-Vinyl acetate                                                                         2       weight part                                    group copolymer resin                                                         Amide-modified Silicone Oil                                                                          0.04    weight part                                    Titanium Oxide (T805)  0.24    weight part                                    Toluene                15      weight part                                    2-butanone             10      weight part                                    ______________________________________                                    

* Intermediate Medium

The same intermediate medium as the example 1 is used.

An apparatus having the same construction as that of FIG. 5 is appliedto this example 6. An image-forming layer transfer medium explainedabove is assembled in a cassette, thus forming the image-forming layertransfer medium 54 of FIG. 5. An intermediate medium manufacturedaccording to the above construction is used as the intermediate medium11 of FIG. 5.

First of all, a first printing operation will be explained.

Position of the intermediate medium is adjusted using a black sensor insuch a manner that the laminate comes to the position of the platen 2.After the sensor mark 29 (the left one in FIG. 5) indicating theposition of the laminate 28 of the image-forming layer transfer medium54 is detected by a sensor, the thermal head (i.e. printing head) 1 ispushed to the platen 2 and, then, the thermal head 1 generates heat,thereby transferring the laminate from the image-forming layer transfermedium to the intermediate medium, thus forming a laminate of the dyeanti-diffusion layer, the protecting layer and the dyeing layer on theintermediate medium. The following is transfer energy actuatingconditions for this thermal head.

    ______________________________________                                        Transfer speed:       16.8 ms/line                                            Applied pulse width:  8 ms                                                    Transfer energy:      8.5 J/cm.sup.2                                          ______________________________________                                    

Next, using the yellow color layer of the image-forming layer transfermedium, yellow color gradation image is thermally transferred or printedin the dyeing layer of the intermediate medium. The following isconditions of this printing operation.

    ______________________________________                                        Printing speed:        16.8 ms/line                                           Printing pulse width:  0.8-8 ms                                               Maximum printing energy:                                                                             8 J/cm.sup.2                                           ______________________________________                                    

Subsequently, magenta color and cyan color are successively printed inthe dyeing layer of the intermediate medium in the same manner as theyellow color, thus forming a composite image of these three colors (i.e.black color).

A post card is used as the image-receiving medium 12. The dyeing layerof the intermediate medium is overlapped with the post card at aposition upstream of the silicone rubber roller 14 and the heatingroller 15. Then, the heating roller 15 (a metallic roller accommodatinga halogen lamp, with a 150° C. surface temperature, a 25 mm diameter anda 120 mm length) is pressed (at a 150N inter-roller load) against thesilicone rubber roller 14 (a silicone rubber coated roller, with a 40°rubber hardness, a 25 mm diameter and a 120 mm length), the post cardand the intermediate medium pass together through a clearance betweenthe heating roller 15 and the silicone rubber roller 14 (at a 10 mm/stravelling speed), thus outputting the post card into the tray 21.

The printed image of the post card thus obtained revealed that thelaminate was beautifully transferred from the intermediate medium to thepost card. An obtained reflective print density of black color was 1.80at the maximum pulse width 8 ms. It was proved that high-quality printimage could be obtained with uniform dots in a wide range from a lowprint density to a high print density.

Next, a second print operation was conducted.

After a new laminate of a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer is transferred from the image-forming layertransfer medium to the intermediate medium in the same manner as thefirst print operation, the laminate is thermally transferred from theintermediate medium to the image-receiving medium 12 (i.e. post card)without executing an image print operation using color layers of theimage-forming layer transfer medium.

As a result of the above second operation, the laminate obtained on thepost card revealed that no contamination was caused by dyestuff.Furthermore, it was also found that the intermediate medium was notcontaminated by the dyestuff, too. This result apparently proves thatthe dye anti-diffusion layer interposed between the intermediate mediumand the dyeing layer has surely performed its function of preventing thedyestuff from diffusing to and reaching the intermediate medium in thefirst image printing operation and the image transfer to theimage-receiving medium.

Moreover, even if the image-forming layer transfer medium manufacturedwas wound around a glass tube of approximately 25 mm outer diameter andkept in an atmosphere of 60° C., 60% RH for 300 hours, it was found thatthe dying layer did not cause a thermal melting with the slidableheat-resisting layer, and stably maintained on the releasing layer.

EXAMPLE 7

* Image-forming layer transfer medium

An image-forming layer transfer medium of the example 7 includes thesame PET film as the example 6 having an anchor coat layer on which areleasing layer is partly formed by using the following coatingmaterial. On this releasing layer, there is formed a sequential laminateof a dyeing layer and a dye ant-diffusion layer. Furthermore, yellow,magenta and cyan color layers are formed on the anchor coat layerseparately from each other, thereby manufacturing an image-forming layertransfer medium comprising the laminate and respective color layerssequentially formed on a surface by using the gravure printingtechnology and hot air processing in the same manner as the example 1. Agravure impression of the dye anti-diffusion layer was wider 1 mm at theedge thereof than that of the dyeing layer so that the area of the dyeanti-diffusion layer became larger than that of the dyeing layer.Centers of the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer arecoincided in the printing. Namely, the dyeing layer is completelycovered by the dye anti-diffusion layer.

In the same manner as the example 6, black sensor marks were printednear the laminate and each coloring layer to detect their positions,respectively. As to film thicknesses, the releasing layer was 0.3 μm,the dyeing layer was approximately 1.5 μm, the dye anti-diffusion layerwas approximately 2.0 μm, and each color layer was approximately 1 μm.

    ______________________________________                                        *Releasing Layer Coating Material                                             Same composition as the example 6                                             *Dyeing Layer Coating Material                                                Polyvinyl butyral Resin                                                                              4       weight part                                    (BL-S)                                                                        Siloxane-containing Acrylsilicon                                                                     0.10    weight part                                    Resin Solution (F-6A)                                                         Di-n-butyltin dilaurate                                                                              0.0005  weight part                                    Fluorine-group Surface Active Agent                                                                  0.08    weight part                                    (F-179A, Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Inc.)                                      Isopropyl Alcohol      12      weight part                                    2-butanone             9       weight part                                    *Dye Anti-diffusion Layer Coating Material                                    Acetoacetalized Polyvinyl Alcohol                                                                    4       weight part                                    (KS-O)                                                                        Isopropyl Alcohol      12      weight part                                    2-butanone             9       weight part                                    ______________________________________                                    

* Intermediate medium

The same intermediate medium as that of the example 1.

Under the same thermal head actuating conditions as the example 6, alaminate of a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer wastransferred from the image-forming layer transfer medium to theintermediate medium. Subsequently, print image was printed in the dyeinglayer of the laminate on the intermediate medium in the same manner asthe example 6, and then the laminate was thermally transferred from theintermediate medium onto the post card, thereby forming the print imageon the post card.

The printed image of the post card thus obtained revealed that thelaminate was beautifully transferred from the intermediate medium to thepost card. An obtained reflective print density of black color was 1.81at the maximum pulse width 8 ms. It was proved that high-quality printimage could be obtained with uniform dots in a wide range from a lowprint density to a high print density.

Next, a second print operation was conducted.

After a new laminate of a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer istransferred from the image-forming layer transfer medium to theintermediate medium in the same manner as the first print operation, thelaminate is thermally transferred from the intermediate medium to thepost card without executing an image print operation using color layersof the image-forming layer transfer medium.

As a result of the above second operation, the laminate obtained on thepost card revealed that no contamination was caused by dyestuff.Furthermore, it was also found that the intermediate medium was notcontaminated by the dyestuff, too. This result apparently proves thatthe dye anti-diffusion layer interposed between the intermediate mediumand the dyeing layer has surely performed its function of preventing thedyestuff from diffusing to and reaching the intermediate medium in thefirst image printing operation and the image transfer to theimage-receiving medium.

Moreover, even if the image-forming layer transfer medium manufacturedwas wound around a glass tube of approximately 25 mm outer diameter andkept in an atmosphere of 60° C., 60% RH for 300 hours, it was found thatthe dying layer did not cause a thermal melting with the slidableheat-resisting layer, and stably maintained on the releasing layer.

EXAMPLE 8

* Image-forming layer transfer medium

An image-forming layer transfer medium of the example 8 includes thesame PET film as the example 6 having an anchor coat layer on which areleasing layer is partly formed by using the following coatingmaterial. On this releasing layer, there is formed a sequential laminateof a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer by using the gravureprinting technology and hot air processing, thereby manufacturing animage-forming layer transfer medium. A gravure impression of the dyeinglayer was wider 2 mm at the edge thereof than that of the dyeanti-diffusion layer so that the area of the dyeing layer became largerthan that of the dye anti-diffusion layer. Centers of the dyeing layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer are coincided in the printing. As tofilm thicknesses, the releasing layer was 0.3 μm, the dyeing layer wasapproximately 1.5 μm, and the dye anti-diffusion layer was approximately2.0 μm.

    ______________________________________                                        *Releasing Layer Coating Material                                             Same composition as the example 6                                             *Dyeing Layer Coating Material                                                Polyvinyl butyral Resin                                                                              4       weight part                                    (BL-3, Softening point: approximately 85° C.)                          Siloxane-containing Acrylsilicon                                                                     0.10    weight part                                    Resin Solution (F-6A)                                                         Di-n-butyltin dilaurate                                                                              0.0005  weight part                                    Fluorine-group Surface Active Agent                                                                  0.08    weight part                                    (F-172, Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Inc.)                                       Isopropyl Alcohol      12      weight part                                    2-butanone             9       weight part                                    *Dye Anti-diffusion Layer Coating Material                                    Acetoacetalized Polyvinyl Alcohol                                                                    4       weight part                                    (Average polymerization degree: approximately 350,                            Acetalization degree: more than 70 mol %, Softening point:                    approximately 130° C.)                                                 Isopropyl Alcohol      12      weight part                                    2-butanone             9       weight part                                    ______________________________________                                    

* Intermediate medium

After forming an anchor coat layer (approximately 0.2 μm thick) on anouter surface of a film of polyimide (25 μm thick), a coating material,comprising polyester acrylate resin (M-8100) 10 weight part, sensitizer(IRGACURE 184) 0.3 weight part, and ethyl acetate 20 weight part, iscoated on the anchor layer and then dried. Thereafter, a hardening filmof 3 μm thick is formed by irradiating light emitted from a mercurylamp.

The laminate of the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer formedon the image-forming layer transfer medium was overlapped with thehardening film of the intermediate medium. Then, the image-forming layertransfer medium and the intermediate medium passed through a clearancebetween the heating metallic roller (roller outer diameter: 50 mm) andthe silicone rubber coated metallic roller (roller outer diameter: 50mm, rubber thickness: 5 mm, hardness: 50°) in such a manner that theimage-forming layer transfer medium is in a face-to-face relation withthe heating metallic roller. The inter-roller load was 800N, and thepassing speed was 10 mm/sec. Temperature of the heating metallic rollerwas varied in the test for finding an optimum temperature; it was foundthat 80° C. was preferable to transfer the laminate from theimage-forming layer transfer medium to the intermediate medium.

EXAMPLE 9

* Image-forming layer transfer medium

An image-forming layer transfer medium of the example 9 includes thesame PET film as the example 6 having an anchor coat layer on which areleasing layer is partly formed by using the following coatingmaterial. On this releasing layer, there is formed a sequential laminateof a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer by using the gravureprinting technology and hot air processing, thereby manufacturing animage-forming layer transfer medium. A gravure impression of the dyeinglayer was the same as that of the dye anti-diffusion layer. However,printing was conducted under the condition that one edge of the dyeinglayer (i.e. an edge along a longitudinal direction of the film)protruded approximately 1 mm outer than the edge of the dyeanti-diffusion layer as shown in FIG. 15. As to film thicknesses, thereleasing layer was 0.3 μm, the dyeing layer was approximately 1.5 μm,and the dye anti-diffusion layer was approximately 2 μm.

* Intermediate medium

The same construction as the example 8.

The laminate of the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer formedon the image-forming layer transfer medium was overlapped with theintermediate medium. Then, the image-forming layer transfer medium andthe intermediate medium passed through a clearance between the heatingmetallic roller and the silicone rubber coated metallic roller with aleading head of the protruding portion of the dyeing layer. Thus, thetransfer tests was conducted in the same manner as the example 8. Whenthe transfer medium was peeled off from the intermediate medium, aportion first peeled off was the protruding portion of the dyeing layer.Temperature of the heating metallic roller was varied in the test forfinding an optimum temperature; it was found that 80° C. was preferableto transfer the laminate from the image-forming layer transfer medium tothe intermediate medium.

EXAMPLE 10

* Image-forming layer transfer medium

An image-forming layer transfer medium of the example 10 includes thesame PET film as the example 6 having an anchor coat layer on which areleasing layer is formed by using the same coating material. On thisreleasing layer, there is formed a sequential laminate of a dyeinglayer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer, therebymanufacturing an image-forming layer transfer medium by using thegravure printing technology and hot air processing. A gravure impressionof the protecting layer was wider 1 mm at the edge thereof than that ofthe dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer so that the area ofthe protecting layer became larger than that of the dyeing layer and thedye anti-diffusion layer. The area of the dyeing layer is identical withthat of the dye anti-diffusion layer. The printing operation wasconducted under the condition that the edge of the protecting layerprotruded outer than the edge of the dyeing layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer. As to film thicknesses, the releasing layer was0.3 μm, the dyeing layer was approximately 1 μm, the protecting layerwas approximately 1.5 μm, and the dye anti-diffusion layer wasapproximately 1.5 μm.

* Intermediate medium

The same construction as the example 8.

The laminate formed on the image-forming layer transfer medium wasoverlapped with the intermediate medium. Then, the image-forming layertransfer medium and the intermediate medium passed through a clearancebetween the heating metallic roller and the silicone rubber coatedmetallic roller, thereby conducting the transfer tests in the samemanner as the example 8. Temperatures of the heating metallic roller wasvaried in the test for finding an optimum temperature; it was found that90° C. was preferable to transfer the laminate from the image-forminglayer transfer medium to the intermediate medium.

EXAMPLE 11

* Image-forming layer transfer medium

An image-forming layer transfer medium of the example 11 includes thesame PET film as the example 6 having an anchor coat layer on which areleasing layer is formed by using the same coating material. On thisreleasing layer, there is formed a sequential laminate of a dyeinglayer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer, therebymanufacturing an image-forming layer transfer medium by using thegravure printing technology and hot air processing. The coating paint ofthe protecting layer or the die anti-diffusion layer is the same as thatof the example 6. The coating paint of the dyeing layer is describedbelow. A gravure impression of the dyeing layer was wider 2 mm at theedge thereof than that of the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer so that the area of the dyeing layer became largerthan that of the protecting layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer.Centers of the dyeing layer, the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer are coincided in the printing. The protecting layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer was the same in the area of theirgravure impressions. As to film thicknesses, the releasing layer was 0.3m, the dyeing layer was approximately 1.5 μm, and the protecting layerwas 1 μm, and the dye anti-diffusion layer was approximately 1.5 μm.

    ______________________________________                                        *Dyeing Layer Coating Material                                                Polyvinyl butyral Resin                                                                            4       weight part                                      [BX-L (Average polymerization degree: approximately 300,                      Tg: approximately 65° C.), Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.]                 Siloxane-containing Acrylsilicon                                                                   0.12    weight part                                      Resin Solution (F-6A)                                                         Di-n-butyltin dilaurate                                                                            0.0005  weight part                                      Isopropyl Alcohol    12      weight part                                      2-butanone           9       weight part                                      ______________________________________                                    

* Intermediate medium

The same construction as the example 8.

The laminate formed on the image-forming layer transfer medium wasoverlapped with the intermediate medium. Then, the image-forming layertransfer medium and the intermediate medium passed through a clearancebetween the heating metallic roller and the silicone rubber coatedmetallic roller, thereby conducting the transfer tests in the samemanner as the example 8. Temperature of the heating metallic roller wasvaried in the test for finding an optimum temperature; it was found that80° C. was preferable to transfer the laminate from the image-forminglayer transfer medium to the intermediate medium.

Comparative Example 1

A PET film, coating materials and an intermediate medium used in thiscomparative example 1 are identical with those of the example 8 or havethe same composition.

A gravure impression of the dyeing layer was narrower 2 mm at the edgethereof than that of the dye anti-diffusion layer. On the anchor coatlayer of the PET film, there is formed a releasing layer on which thedyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer are laminated, using thegravure printing technology and the hot air processing, therebymanufacturing the image-forming layer transfer medium layer whichincludes the dyeing layer completely covered by the dye anti-diffusionlayer.

The image-forming layer transfer medium of this comparative example 1was overlapped with the intermediate medium. Then, the image-forminglayer transfer medium and the intermediate medium passed through aclearance between the heating metallic roller and the silicone rubbercoated metallic roller, thereby conducting the transfer tests in thesame manner as the example 8. An obtained result was that the transferoperation to the intermediate medium was failed at the temperature 80°C., and was not satisfactorily carried out even at the temperature 110°C. although a partial transfer was found only at the head portion of thelaminate of the image-forming layer transfer medium.

Comparative Example 2

A PET film, coating materials and an intermediate medium used in thiscomparative example 2 are identical with those of the example 9 or havethe same composition.

A gravure impression of the dyeing layer was narrower 1 mm at the edgethereof than that of the dye anti-diffusion layer. On the anchor coatlayer of the PET film, there is formed a releasing layer on which thedyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer are sequentiallylaminated, using the gravure printing technology and the hot airprocessing, thereby manufacturing the image-forming layer transfermedium layer which includes the dyeing layer completely covered by thedye anti-diffusion layer.

The image-forming layer transfer medium of this comparative example 2was overlapped with the intermediate medium. Then, the image-forminglayer transfer medium and the intermediate medium passed through aclearance between the heating metallic roller and the silicone rubbercoated metallic roller, thereby conducting the transfer tests in thesame manner as the example 9. An obtained result was that the transferoperation to the intermediate medium was failed at the temperature 80°C., and was not satisfactorily carried out even at the temperature 110°C. although a partial transfer was found only at the head portion of thelaminate of the image-forming layer transfer medium.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiments as described are therefore intended to be only illustrativeand not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by theappended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and allchanges that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalentsof such metes and bounds, are therefore intended to be embraced by theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image-forming layer transfer mediumcomprising:a support; and a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layerformed on said support, wherein at least one of a glass transition pointand a softening point of said dye anti-diffusion layer is higher by anamount not less than 20° C. than a corresponding glass transition pointor softening point of said dyeing layer.
 2. The image-forming layertransfer medium in accordance with claim 1, wherein a releasing layer isinterposed between said support and at least one of the dyeing layer andthe dye anti-diffusion layer.
 3. The image-forming layer transfer mediumin accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of said dyeing layerand said dye anti-diffusion layer contains polyvinyl acetal.
 4. Theimage-forming layer transfer medium in accordance with claim 1, whereinat least one of said dyeing layer and said dye anti-diffusion layercontains at least one of polyvinyl butyral and acetoacetalized polyvinylalcohol.
 5. The image-forming layer transfer medium in accordance withclaim 1, wherein at least one of said dyeing layer and said dyeanti-diffusion layer contains ultraviolet ray absorbing agent.
 6. Theimage-forming layer transfer medium in accordance with claim 1, furthercomprising color layers provided on said support.
 7. An image-forminglayer transfer medium comprising:a support; and a sequential laminateconsisting of a dyeing layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer formed onsaid support, wherein a part of said dyeing layer protrudes further thansaid dye anti-diffusion layer, and at least one of a glass transitionpoint and a softening point of said dyeing layer is lower than acorresponding glass; transition point or softening point of said dyeanti-diffusion layer.
 8. An image-forming layer transfer mediumcomprising:a support; a dyeing layer, protecting layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer provided at different portions on said support,each of said dyeing layer, said protecting layer and said dyeanti-diffusion layer comprising polymeric substances as main componentthereof; and a polymeric substance constituting said protecting layerhaving at least one of a glass transition point and a softening pointhigher than a corresponding glass transition point or softening point ofthe polymeric substance constituting said dyeing layer.
 9. Theimage-forming layer transfer medium in accordance with claim 8, whereinat least one of a glass transition point and a softening point of apolymeric substance constituting said dye anti-diffusion layer is higherthan a corresponding glass transition point or softening point of apolymeric substance constituting at least one of said dyeing layer andsaid protecting layer.
 10. The image-forming layer transfer medium inaccordance with claim 9, wherein at least one of said dyeing layer, saidprotecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer contains at least oneselected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetal, polyvinylbutyryl, acetoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol, and ultraviolet rayabsorbing agent.
 11. The image-forming layer transfer medium inaccordance with claim 8, wherein a non-transferable releasing layer isinterposed between said support and at least one of the dyeing layer,the protecting layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer.
 12. Theimage-forming layer transfer medium in accordance with claim 8, whereinat least one of said dyeing layer, said protecting layer and said dyeanti-diffusion layer contains polyvinyl acetal.
 13. The image-forminglayer transfer medium in accordance with claim 8, wherein at least oneof said dyeing layer, said protecting layer and said dye anti-diffusionlayer contains at least one of polyvinyl butyral and acetoacetalizedpolyvinyl alcohol.
 14. The image-forming layer transfer medium inaccordance with claim 8, wherein at least one of said dyeing layer, saidprotecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer contains ultravioletray absorbing agent.
 15. An image-forming layer transfer mediumcomprising:a support; a dyeing layer providing layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer provided on said support, at least two layers ofwhich form a sequential laminate piled up on said support, saidsequential laminate being selected from the group of a laminateconsisting of the dyeing layer and the protecting layer piled up in thisorder and spaced from the dye anti-diffusion layer, a laminateconsisting of the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer piled upin this order and spaced from the protecting layer, a laminateconsisting of the dyeing layer, the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer piled up in this order, and a laminate consistingof the dyeing layer, the dye anti-diffusion layer and the protectinglayer piled up in this order, each of said dyeing layer, said protectinglayer and said dye anti-diffusion layer comprising polymeric substancesas a main component, and a polymeric substance constituting saidprotecting layer having at least one of a glass transit ion point and asoftening point higher than a corresponding glass transition point orsoftening point of the polymeric substance constituting said dyeinglayer.
 16. The image-forming layer transfer medium in accordance withclaim 15, wherein at least one of a glass transition point and asoftening point of a polymeric substance constituting said dyeanti-diffusion layer is higher than a corresponding glass transitionpoint or softening point of a polymeric substance constituting at leaseone of said dyeing layer and said protecting layer.
 17. Theimage-forming layer transfer medium in accordance with claim 15, whereina non-transferable releasing layer is interposed between said supportand at least one of the dyeing layer, the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer.
 18. The image-forming layer transfer medium inaccordance with claim 15, wherein at least one of said dyeing layer,said protecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer contains atlease one selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetal,polyvinyl butyryl, acetoacatalized polyvinyl alcohol, and ultravioletray absorbing agent.
 19. An image-forming layer transfer mediumcomprising:a support; and a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer provided on said support, so as to form asequential laminate selected from the group of a laminate consisting ofthe dyeing layer and the protecting layer piled up in this order and alaminate consisting of the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layerpiled up in this order, wherein at least one of said protecting layerand said dye anti-diffusion layer has an area larger than an area ofsaid dyeing layer, and at least one of said protecting layer and saiddye anti-diffusion layer has at least one of a glass transition pointand a softening point higher than a corresponding glass transition pointor softening point of said dyeing layer.
 20. The image-forming layertransfer medium in accordance with claim 19, wherein a non-transferablereleasing layer is interposed between said support and at least one ofthe dyeing layer, the protecting layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer.21. An image-forming layer transfer medium comprising:a support; and adyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer providedon said support, so as to form a sequential laminate selected from thegroup of a laminate consisting of the dyeing layer, the protecting layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer piled up in this order and a laminateconsisting of the dyeing layer, the dye anti-diffusion layer and theprotecting layer piled up in this order, wherein an intermediate layerof said sequential laminate intervening between the dyeing layer and atop layer has an area larger than an area of the dyeing layer, and atleast one of a glass transition point and a softening point of saidprotecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer is higher than acorresponding glass transition point or softening point of said dyeinglayer.
 22. An image-forming layer transfer medium comprising:a support;and a sequential laminate consisting of a dyeing layer, a protectinglayer and a dye anti-diffusion layer formed on said support, wherein anarea of said protecting layer is larger than areas of the dyeing layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer, and at least one of a glass transitionpoint and a softening point of said protecting layer is higher than acorresponding glass transition point or softening point of said dyeinglayer, and at least one of a glass transition point and a softeningpoint of said dye anti-diffusion layer is higher than a correspondingglass transition point or softening point of said protecting layer. 23.An image-forming layer transfer medium comprising:a support; and adyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer providedon said support, so as to form a sequential laminate selected from thegroup of a laminate consisting of the dyeing layer, the protecting layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer sequentially piled up in this order, alaminate consisting of the dyeing layer, the dye anti-diffusion layer,and the protecting layer sequentially piled up in this order, a laminateconsisting of the dyeing layer and the protecting layer sequentiallypiled up in this order, and a laminate consisting of the dyeing layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer piled up in this order, wherein a toplayer of said sequential laminate has an area larger than an area of thedyeing layer, and at least one of a glass transition point and asoftening point of said top layer is higher than a corresponding glasstransition point or softening point of said dyeing layer.
 24. Theimage-forming layer transfer medium in accordance with claim 23, whereina non-transferable releasing layer is interposed between said supportand at least one of the dyeing layer, the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer.
 25. The image-forming layer transfer medium inaccordance with 23, wherein at least one of said dyeing layer, saidprotecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer contains at least oneselected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetal, polyvinylbutyryl, acetoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol, and ultraviolet rayabsorbing agent.
 26. An image-forming layer transfer medium comprising:asupport; and a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusionlayer provided on said support, wherein said dyeing layer is covered bysaid protecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer, and saidprotecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer have at least one ofa glass transition point and a softening point higher than acorresponding glass transition point or softening point of said dyeinglayer.
 27. An image-forming layer transfer medium comprising:a support;and a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layerprovided on said support, three layers of which are provided atdifferent portions on said support or at least two layers of which forma sequential laminate piled up on said support, said sequential laminatebeing selected from the group of a laminate consisting of the dyeinglayer and the protecting layer piled up in this order and spaced fromthe dye anti-diffusion layer, a laminate consisting of the dyeing layerand the dye anti-diffusion layer piled up in this order and spaced fromthe protecting layer, a laminate consisting of the dyeing layer, theprotecting layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer piled up in thisorder, and a laminate consisting of the dyeing layer, the dyeanti-diffusion layer and the protecting layer piled up in this order,each of said dyeing layer, said protecting layer and said dyeanti-diffusion layer comprising polymeric substance as main component,wherein an area of said dyeing layer is larger than areas of saidprotecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer, and said dyeinglayer comprises a polymeric substance having at least one of a glasstransition point and a softening point lower than a corresponding glasstransition point or softening point of a polymer substance constitutingat least one of said protecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer.28. The image-forming layer transfer medium in accordance with claim 27,wherein a non-transferable releasing layer is interposed between saidsupport and at least one of the dyeing layer, the protecting layer andthe dye anti-diffusion layer.
 29. The image-forming layer transfermedium in accordance with claim 27, wherein at least one of said dyeinglayer, said protecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer containsat least one selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetal,polyvinyl butyryl, acetoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol, and ultravioletray absorbing agent.
 30. An image-forming layer transfer mediumcomprising:a support; and a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer provided on said support, so as to form asequential laminate selected from the group of a laminate consisting ofthe dyeing layer and the protecting layer sequentially piled up in thisorder and a laminate consisting of the dyeing layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer sequentially piled up in this order, wherein a partof said dyeing layer protrudes further than at least one of saidprotecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer, and at least one ofa glass transition point and a softening point of said dyeing layer islower than a corresponding glass transition point or softening point ofat least one of said protecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer.31. An image-forming layer transfer medium comprising:a support; and adyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dye anti-diffusion layer providedon said support, so as to form a sequential laminate selected from thegroup of a laminate consisting of the dyeing layer, the protectinglayer, and the dye anti-diffusion layer sequentially piled up in thisorder and a laminate consisting of the dyeing layer, the dyeanti-diffusion layer and the protecting layer sequentially piled up inthis order, wherein a part of said dyeing layer protrudes further thanboth of said protecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer, and atleast one of a glass transition point and a softening point of saiddyeing layer is lower than a corresponding glass transition point orsoftening point of at least one of said protecting layer and said dyeanti-diffusion layer.
 32. An image-forming layer transfer mediumcomprising:a support; and a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer provided on said support, three layers of which areprovided at different portions on said support or at least two layers ofwhich form a sequential laminate piled up on said support, saidsequential laminate being selected from the group of a laminateconsisting of the dyeing layer and the protecting layer piled up in thisorder and spaced from the dye anti-diffusion layer, a laminateconsisting of the dyeing layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer piled upin this order and spaced from the protecting layer, a laminateconsisting of the dyeing layer, the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer piled up in this order, and a laminate consistingof the dyeing layer, the dye anti-diffusion layer and the protectinglayer piled up in this order, each of said dyeing layer, said protectinglayer and said dye anti-diffusion layer comprising polymeric substanceas main component, wherein an area of the protecting layer is largerthan areas of said dyeing layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer, andat least one of a glass transition point and a softening point of apolymeric substance constituting said protecting layer is lower than acorresponding glass transition point or softening point of a polymericsubstance constituting said dye anti-diffusion layer.
 33. Theimage-forming layer transfer medium in accordance with claim 32, whereina non-transferable releasing layer is interposed between said supportand at least one of the dyeing layer, the protecting layer and the dyeanti-diffusion layer.
 34. The image-forming layer transfer medium inaccordance with claim 32, wherein at least one of said dyeing layer,said protecting layer and said dye anti-diffusion layer contains atleast one selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetal,polyvinyl butyryl, acetoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol, and ultravioletray absorbing agent.
 35. An image-forming layer transfer mediumcomprising:a support; and a dyeing layer, a protecting layer and a dyeanti-diffusion layer provided on said support, so as to form asequential laminate selected from the group of a laminate consisting ofthe dyeing layer, the protecting layer, and the dye anti-diffusion layersequentially piled up in this order, a laminate consisting of the dyeinglayer, the dye anti-diffusion layer and the protecting layersequentially piled up in this order, and a laminate consisting of thedyeing layer and the protecting layer piled up in this order, whereinsaid protecting layer protrudes furthest in the layers consisting ofsaid laminate, and at least one of a glass transition point and asoftening point of said protecting layer is lower than a correspondingglass transition point or softening point of said dye anti-diffusionlayer.
 36. The image-forming layer transfer medium in accordance withclaim 35, wherein a non-transferable releasing layer is interposedbetween said support and at least one of the dyeing layer, theprotecting layer and the dye anti-diffusion layer.
 37. The image-forminglayer transfer medium in accordance with claim 35, wherein at least oneof said dyeing layer, said protecting layer and said dye anti diffusionlayer contains at least one selected from the group consisting ofpolyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl butyryl, acetoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol,and ultraviolet ray absorbing agent.